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Intermanual transfer effect in young children after training in a complex skill: mechanistic, pseudorandomized,
Sietske Romkema1, Raoul M Bongers2, Corry K van der Sluis3
1S. Romkema, MSc, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, CB40, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands. s.romkema@umcg.nl.
Physical Therapy
|December 16, 2014
Summary
Intermanual transfer was observed in children practicing with a prosthesis simulator. Training one hand improved the untrained hand's movement time, suggesting a benefit for novice prosthesis users.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric rehabilitation
- Motor learning
- Prosthetics
Background:
- Intermanual transfer demonstrates motor skill learning on one body side transferring to the untrained side.
- This phenomenon has been previously observed in adults using prosthesis simulators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of intermanual transfer in children undergoing prosthetic handling training.
- To assess if motor skills acquired with a prosthesis simulator transfer to the contralateral limb in pediatric participants.
Main Methods:
- A pseudorandomized, pretest-posttest design was employed with 48 able-bodied children (mean age 5.1 years).
- Participants were assigned to an experimental group (prosthesis simulator training) or a control group.
- Movement time and force control were measured before, immediately after, and 6 days after training.
Main Results:
- A significant improvement in movement time was observed in the experimental group between posttest and retention test.
- The intermanual transfer effect was evident as the untrained hand's performance improved after training the other hand.
- No significant effect was found for force control.
Conclusions:
- Intermanual transfer is present in 5-year-old children during prosthetic handling training.
- Improved movement time in the untrained hand suggests potential benefits for pediatric prosthesis users.
- Limitations include the exclusion of children with limb differences and potential measurement bias.
