Manual dexterity in school-age children measured by the Grooved Pegboard test: Evaluation of training effect and performance in dual-task

• Published in: Heliyon 2023-07, Vol.9 (7), p.e18327-e18327, Article e18327
• Main Authors: Giustino, Valerio, Patti, Antonino, Petrigna, Luca, Figlioli, Flavia, Thomas, Ewan, Costa, Vincenza, Galvano, Luigi, Brusa, Jessica, Vicari, Domenico Savio Salvatore, Pajaujiene, Simona, Smirni, Daniela, Palma, Antonio, Bianco, Antonino
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: age; age structure; cognition; Counting test; cross-sectional studies; Dual-task; Fine motor skills; Finger tapping test; Fingers dexterity; Hand movement; hands; Manual dexterity; Motor coordination; motors; Musculoskeletal system; Neuromuscular system; population; school children; testing
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18327

Manual dexterity is the ability to manipulate objects using the hands and fingers for a specific task. Although manual dexterity is widely investigated in the general and special population at all ages, numerous aspects still remain to be explored in children. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of the training effect of the execution of the Grooved Pegboard test (GPT) and to measure the performance of the GPT in dual-task (DT), i.e., during a motor task and a cognitive task. In this observational, cross-sectional study manual dexterity was assessed in children aged between 6 and 8. The procedure consisted of two phases: (1) the execution of five consecutive trials of the GPT to evaluate the training effect; (2) the execution of one trial of the GPT associated with a motor task (finger tapping test, GPT-FTT), and one trial of the GPT associated with a cognitive task (counting test, GPT-CT) to evaluate the performance in DT. As for the training effect, a significant difference (p