Preliminary development and evaluation of a mechanical handwriting assistive device to support individuals with movement disorders
Individuals with movement disorders often face challenges in writing independently due to factors such as spasticity, lack of precise motor control, muscle weakness, and tremors. This paper aims to develop a handwriting assistive device (HAD) for individuals with movement disorders, to stabilize the...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2024.1418534/full |
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| author | Gabrielle Lemire Gabrielle Lemire Thierry Laliberté Katia Turcot Katia Turcot Véronique H. Flamand Véronique H. Flamand Alexandre Campeau-Lecours Alexandre Campeau-Lecours |
| author_facet | Gabrielle Lemire Gabrielle Lemire Thierry Laliberté Katia Turcot Katia Turcot Véronique H. Flamand Véronique H. Flamand Alexandre Campeau-Lecours Alexandre Campeau-Lecours |
| author_sort | Gabrielle Lemire |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Individuals with movement disorders often face challenges in writing independently due to factors such as spasticity, lack of precise motor control, muscle weakness, and tremors. This paper aims to develop a handwriting assistive device (HAD) for individuals with movement disorders, to stabilize the motion of user's hand, through initial needs assessment, iterative design, and a preliminary evaluation. The research is scoped to include only initial testing with a small user group, six potential users with movement disorders, providing foundational insights for future refinement. The findings from the initial needs assessment revealed that current assistive technologies do not fully meet handwriting challenges for individuals with motor impairments. The HAD prototype, developed with adjustable damping mechanism and customizable handles to suit different levels of motor control, enabled steadier handwriting in preliminary testing with six participants. Children drew shapes more accurately, and some traced letters they couldn't otherwise. The adult participant showed greater fluidity and legibility, completing tasks 4.81 times faster with the HAD. The qualitative feedback indicated the device's potential to enhance handwriting independence and usability across age groups. Future prospects for this study include developing an electronic version of the HAD, allowing real-time adjustable damping to better support users' voluntary movements while further stabilizing involuntary motions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3aaefbca26614224abbd14da6df8bf85 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-6861 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-3aaefbca26614224abbd14da6df8bf852025-01-17T06:51:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences2673-68612025-01-01510.3389/fresc.2024.14185341418534Preliminary development and evaluation of a mechanical handwriting assistive device to support individuals with movement disordersGabrielle Lemire0Gabrielle Lemire1Thierry Laliberté2Katia Turcot3Katia Turcot4Véronique H. Flamand5Véronique H. Flamand6Alexandre Campeau-Lecours7Alexandre Campeau-Lecours8Department of Mechanical Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, CanadaCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, QC, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, CanadaCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, QC, CanadaDepartment of Kinesiology, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, CanadaCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, QC, CanadaSchool of Rehabilitation, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, CanadaCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, QC, CanadaIndividuals with movement disorders often face challenges in writing independently due to factors such as spasticity, lack of precise motor control, muscle weakness, and tremors. This paper aims to develop a handwriting assistive device (HAD) for individuals with movement disorders, to stabilize the motion of user's hand, through initial needs assessment, iterative design, and a preliminary evaluation. The research is scoped to include only initial testing with a small user group, six potential users with movement disorders, providing foundational insights for future refinement. The findings from the initial needs assessment revealed that current assistive technologies do not fully meet handwriting challenges for individuals with motor impairments. The HAD prototype, developed with adjustable damping mechanism and customizable handles to suit different levels of motor control, enabled steadier handwriting in preliminary testing with six participants. Children drew shapes more accurately, and some traced letters they couldn't otherwise. The adult participant showed greater fluidity and legibility, completing tasks 4.81 times faster with the HAD. The qualitative feedback indicated the device's potential to enhance handwriting independence and usability across age groups. Future prospects for this study include developing an electronic version of the HAD, allowing real-time adjustable damping to better support users' voluntary movements while further stabilizing involuntary motions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2024.1418534/fullassistive technologycognitive rehabilitationhandwritingmovement disorderorthotic deviceself-help devices |
| spellingShingle | Gabrielle Lemire Gabrielle Lemire Thierry Laliberté Katia Turcot Katia Turcot Véronique H. Flamand Véronique H. Flamand Alexandre Campeau-Lecours Alexandre Campeau-Lecours Preliminary development and evaluation of a mechanical handwriting assistive device to support individuals with movement disorders Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences assistive technology cognitive rehabilitation handwriting movement disorder orthotic device self-help devices |
| title | Preliminary development and evaluation of a mechanical handwriting assistive device to support individuals with movement disorders |
| title_full | Preliminary development and evaluation of a mechanical handwriting assistive device to support individuals with movement disorders |
| title_fullStr | Preliminary development and evaluation of a mechanical handwriting assistive device to support individuals with movement disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preliminary development and evaluation of a mechanical handwriting assistive device to support individuals with movement disorders |
| title_short | Preliminary development and evaluation of a mechanical handwriting assistive device to support individuals with movement disorders |
| title_sort | preliminary development and evaluation of a mechanical handwriting assistive device to support individuals with movement disorders |
| topic | assistive technology cognitive rehabilitation handwriting movement disorder orthotic device self-help devices |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2024.1418534/full |
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