Handwriting speed and size in individuals with Parkinson’s disease compared to healthy controls: the possible effect of cueing

Changes in handwriting are common in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Improving motor performance by using cueing strategies has become a standard in PD physiotherapy. The objective of the study was to identify whether using different paper types (plain, horizontal lined and grid lined) can improve handwriting of individuals with PD. 21 subjects with mild-to-moderate PD and 9 healthy control group members participated. Subjects were given the task of writing two repetitions of one simple and one complex sentence on plain, horizontal lined and grid lined paper. Handwriting speed and size were measured. Results confirm previous findings stating that individuals with PD write slower and have smaller handwriting compared to healthy controls. Based on the study, it can be concluded that writing on different types of paper does not affect writing speed, but does affect handwriting size of patients with PD