Child visuomotor skills: preliminary findings using a new low-cost movement analysis method

Visuomotor skills are obviously important in activities of daily living. In school-aged children they are particularly important in writing and reading processes. The assessment of these skills is usually performed through neuropsychological or complex neurophysiological tests. We present our preliminary findings in 21 healthy children in whom visuomotor assessment was performed using a new, non-invasive method, based on quantitative video analysis of arm movement during a maze task. This low-cost method seems promising because it is easier to perform than other neurophysiological techniques, does not involve the fixing of markers on the child's body and allows accurate evaluation of joint angles. The major drawbacks are the single plane used for the video recording and the need for a well lit environment.