Muscle Activity During Handwriting on a Tablet: An Electromyographic Analysis of the Writing Process in Children and Adults

Overview

Journal Children (Basel)

Specialty Health Services

Date 2023 May 16

PMID 37189997

Authors

Sabrina Gerth

Julia Festman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Handwriting is a complex task that includes planning the content and the execution of handwriting movements on paper or on a tool (e.g., a tablet). This execution depends on the involvement of specific muscles in the hand (distal) and arm (proximal). The present study combines the parallel recording of the writing process on tablets and the related muscle activity with electromyography to investigate the differences in handwriting movements in two groups. A total of 37 intermediate writers (third and fourth graders, mean age 9.6 years, SD 0.5) and 18 skilled adults (mean age 28.6 years, SD 5.5) participated in three handwriting tasks. The tablet data results replicate previous findings in handwriting research for the writing process. The muscle activity data reflected a differential relationship between distinct muscle activity and handwriting performance depending on the handwriting skill (intermediate or advanced writers). Furthermore, the combination of both methods revealed that skilled writers tend to involve rather distal muscles to control the pressure of the writing pen on the surface, whereas developing writers mainly use their proximal muscles to control the velocity of their handwriting movements. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the underlying processes of handwriting and the development of efficient handwriting execution.

References

Berger H, van der Werf S, Horstink C, Cools A, Oyen W, Horstink M . Writer's cramp: restoration of striatal D2-binding after successful biofeedback-based sensorimotor training. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2006; 13(3):170-3. DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2006.09.003. View

Ince L, Leon M, Christidis D . EMG biofeedback for handwriting disabilities: a critical examination of the literature. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 1986; 17(2):95-100. DOI: 10.1016/0005-7916(86)90044-3. View

Vaivre-Douret L, Lopez C, Dutruel A, Vaivre S . Phenotyping features in the genesis of pre-scriptural gestures in children to assess handwriting developmental levels. Sci Rep. 2021; 11(1):731. PMC: 7804314. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79315-w. View

Linderman M, Lebedev M, Erlichman J . Recognition of handwriting from electromyography. PLoS One. 2009; 4(8):e6791. PMC: 2727961. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006791. View

Hermens H, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G . Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2000; 10(5):361-74. DOI: 10.1016/s1050-6411(00)00027-4. View

Guilbert J, Alamargot D, Morin M . Handwriting on a tablet screen: Role of visual and proprioceptive feedback in the control of movement by children and adults. Hum Mov Sci. 2018; 65. DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2018.09.001. View

Julius M, Adi-Japha E . Learning of a simple grapho-motor task by young children and adults: similar acquisition but age-dependent retention. Front Psychol. 2015; 6:225. PMC: 4350392. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00225. View

Schwartz C, Tubez F, Wang F, Croisier J, Bruls O, Denoel V . Normalizing shoulder EMG: An optimal set of maximum isometric voluntary contraction tests considering reproducibility. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2017; 37:1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2017.08.005. View

Burden A . How should we normalize electromyograms obtained from healthy participants? What we have learned from over 25 years of research. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2010; 20(6):1023-35. DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2010.07.004. View

10.

Longcamp M, Boucard C, Gilhodes J, Anton J, Roth M, Nazarian B . Learning through hand- or typewriting influences visual recognition of new graphic shapes: behavioral and functional imaging evidence. J Cogn Neurosci. 2008; 20(5):802-15. DOI: 10.1162/jocn.2008.20504. View

11.

Dounskaia N, Van Gemmert A, Stelmach G . Interjoint coordination during handwriting-like movements. Exp Brain Res. 2000; 135(1):127-40. DOI: 10.1007/s002210000495. View

12.

Hughes M, McLellan D . Increased co-activation of the upper limb muscles in writer's cramp. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1985; 48(8):782-7. PMC: 1028450. DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.48.8.782. View

13.

Pontart V, Bidet-Ildei C, Lambert E, Morisset P, Flouret L, Alamargot D . Influence of handwriting skills during spelling in primary and lower secondary grades. Front Psychol. 2013; 4:818. PMC: 3817363. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00818. View

14.

Naider-Steinhart S, Katz-Leurer M . Analysis of proximal and distal muscle activity during handwriting tasks. Am J Occup Ther. 2007; 61(4):392-8. DOI: 10.5014/ajot.61.4.392. View

15.

Meulenbroek R, Thomassen A, van Lieshout P, Swinnen S . The stability of pen-joint and interjoint coordination in loop writing. Acta Psychol (Amst). 1998; 100(1-2):55-70. DOI: 10.1016/s0001-6918(98)00025-0. View

16.

Gerth S, Klassert A, Dolk T, Fliesser M, Fischer M, Nottbusch G . Is Handwriting Performance Affected by the Writing Surface? Comparing Preschoolers', Second Graders', and Adults' Writing Performance on a Tablet vs. Paper. Front Psychol. 2016; 7:1308. PMC: 5018499. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01308. View

17.

Lacquaniti F, Ferrigno G, Pedotti A, Soechting J, Terzuolo C . Changes in spatial scale in drawing and handwriting: kinematic contributions by proximal and distal joints. J Neurosci. 1987; 7(3):819-28. PMC: 6569060. View

18.

Alamargot D, Morin M . Does handwriting on a tablet screen affect students' graphomotor execution? A comparison between Grades Two and Nine. Hum Mov Sci. 2015; 44:32-41. DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2015.08.011. View

19.

Bao S, Mathiassen S, Winkel J . Normalizing upper trapezius EMG amplitude: Comparison of different procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2010; 5(4):251-7. DOI: 10.1016/1050-6411(95)00011-9. View

20.

Longcamp M, Zerbato-Poudou M, Velay J . The influence of writing practice on letter recognition in preschool children: a comparison between handwriting and typing. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2005; 119(1):67-79. DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2004.10.019. View