The Relationship Between Postural Control and Fine Manual Dexterity

Abstract

The influence of the development of postural control of the trunk and center of the body on the development of fine manual dexterity ability is a common assumption. The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine the relationship between the adult version of the Nine-Hole Peg Test and the “children's version” in order to establish construct validity for the latter, and (2) to investigate the relationship between postural control and fine motor performance of children developing typically aged five to six. The study sample included 47 children, 25 males and 22 females, with a mean age of 5 years and 8 months and a standard deviation of 3.8 months. Two tests were administered: (1) The balance subtest of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP; Bruininks, 1978); and (2) the Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT; Kellor, Frost, Silberg Iversen & Cumming, 1971), as well as the “children's version” of rotation and translation tasks (Case-Smith, 1993, 1995). The adult version of the NHPT revealed significant moderate correlations with most of the BOTMP tasks for both hands. Secondary results of the study support the concurrent validity of the two “children's version” tasks. Results show low to moderate correlations between performance on the NHPT subtests and the BOTMP subtest tasks, with significant correlations ranging from —.31 to —.47. Given the negative and low correlations obtained in this study, it is suggested that more extensive longitudinal research examine the relationship between postural control and fine motor manual dexterity performance.

Key Words:

• Postural control
• manual dexterity
• fine motor
• validity

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sara Rosenblum

Michael Lepp, PT, is in private practice, Associate Instructor of the Upledger Institute, and Clinical Instructor, Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, Cleveland, OH.

Marie McKenzie, MS, OTR, is in private practice. She was Coordinator of Occupational Therapy at Scottish Rite Hospital at the time of this study.

Heather Miller, MS, OTR/L, is currently employed by Madison County Educational Service Center, providing therapy services to the county's pre-schools. This research was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements of an MS degree at Ohio State University.

Linda Viscardis, BA, is Team Leader and Community Development Worker, Peterborough Family Enrichment Centre. She is Co-Founder of P.R.O.S.P.E.C.T.S., a support and advocacy group for families who have children with special needs.

Debra Stewart, BSc, OT(C), is Occupational Therapist, Erinoak, Serving Young People with Physical Disabilities, Mississauga, ON, and Clinical Lecturer, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University.

Janette McDougall, MA, was Project Coordinator

Kip Husted, BEd, was a parent representative on the study team.

Aviva Yochman, MA, OTR, was a student in the School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel at the time of this study.

Imelda Burgman, MA OTR/L BCP, completed her MA in Movement Sciences at Teachers College, Columbia University, and was an Occupational Therapist at The Shield Institute, Bronx, NY. She is currently Lecturer, Habilitation, School of Community Health, Faculty of Health Studies, Charles Sturt University, Albury, N.S.W., Australia.

Barbara J. Steva, OTWL, BCP, is Occupational Therapist, University of New England Community Occupational Therapy Clinic, Saco, ME. She was Director of Occupational Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation, Franciscan Children's Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Boston, MA, when this work was completed.