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Published on: February 12, 2018
Kinematic Assessment of Fine Motor Skills in Children: Comparison of a Kinematic Approach and a Standardized Test
Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo1, Taylor A Brin2, Benjamin Thompson2,3,4
1Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
Insights
Kinematic assessment using portable equipment is feasible in optometry clinics. This method enhances standard motor skill tests, aiding in the diagnosis and monitoring of fine motor deficits in children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
Background:
- Fine motor skill deficits are observed in children with neurodevelopmental disorders like amblyopia and strabismus.
- Monitoring motor skill development and therapeutic improvements is crucial in clinical settings.
- Current motor function screening tests may not fully capture subtle visuomotor deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of kinematic assessment in an optometric setting using accessible technology.
- To determine if kinematic data can supplement routine motor function tests.
- To explore the utility of kinematic assessment in a clinical pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 47 typically developing children (7-15 years) underwent upper limb dexterity assessment using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2).
- Hand kinematics were recorded using a Leap motion capture system during a bead-threading task.
- Two children with a history of amblyopia were included to assess clinical utility.
Main Results:
- Typically developing children showed lower-than-norm MABC-2 scores despite normal visual acuity and stereoacuity.
- Kinematic assessment and MABC-2 provided convergent findings in children with amblyopia, identifying fine motor control deficits.
- The Leap motion capture system proved feasible for use in an optometric environment.
Conclusions:
- Kinematic assessment is a viable addition to optometric evaluations, complementing standardized motor skill tests.
- This approach can provide valuable insights into visuomotor function and track treatment efficacy.
- Kinematic analysis offers a promising tool for managing children with binocular vision anomalies and associated motor challenges.
Abstract:
Deficits in fine motor skills have been reported in some children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as amblyopia or strabismus. Therefore, monitoring the development of motor skills and any potential improvement due to therapy is an important clinical goal. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of performing a kinematic assessment within an optometric setting using inexpensive, portable, off-the-shelf equipment. The study also assessed whether kinematic data could enhance the information provided by a routine motor function screening test (the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, MABC). Using the MABC-2, upper limb dexterity was measured in a cohort of 47 typically developing children (7-15 years old), and the Leap motion capture system was used to record hand kinematics while children performed a bead-threading task. Two children with a history of amblyopia were also tested to explore the utility of a kinematic assessment in a clinical population. For the typically developing children, visual acuity and stereoacuity were within the normal range; however, the average standardized MABC-2 scores were lower than published norms. Comparing MABC-2 and kinematic measures in the two children with amblyopia revealed that both assessments provide convergent results and revealed deficits in fine motor control. In conclusion, kinematic assessment can augment standardized tests of fine motor skills in an optometric setting and may be useful for measuring visuomotor function and monitoring treatment outcomes in children with binocular vision anomalies.
