Objective: To evaluate a custom designed software platform to digitise handwriting data in writers cramp and normal controls.

Background: Focal task specific dystonia occurring while writing is called writer’s cramp (WC). (1) WC  causes abnormal force on pen while writing leading to altered speed and smoothness of handwriting .(2) We used a custom designed java based platform using Wacom® tablet  to record hand writing. Our aim was to assess if the platform could clinically distinguish writer’s cramp and normal patients.

Method: We designed the platform to assimilate the features of handwriting and analyse the same. We assessed writer’s cramp and normal population using two tasks (1) Write an English sentence (2) clockwise spiral.After obtaining the data using the platform, it was analysed using Matlab to extract parameters including Number of inversions of velocity, break count, frequency of strokes. We enrolled consecutive patients with writer’s cramp.

Results: We studied 21 patients with simple WC and 39 HC The mean age in WC group of 38.67 ( ±16.8) years and HC group 31.41(±9.31) years and years of education (WC=18.9 , HC =19.2 years) were comparable (p>0.05). While writing English sentence, Number of inversions of velocity(p<0.001), break count(p<0.03) and frequency of strokes(p<0.001) were higher among patients than controls. However during clockwise spiral assessment, Number of inversion of velocity(p<0.01), alone was higher among patients. (Table)

Conclusion: Analysis of preliminary data suggests the efficiency of the platform to differentiate the hand writing of writer’s cramp patients from normal controls. We intend to add more tasks and extend the study to render it clinically meaningful.

References: Amouzandeh A, Grossbach M, Hermsdörfer J, Altenmüller E. Pathophysiology of writer’s cramp: an exploratory study on task-specificity and non-motor symptoms using an extended fine-motor testing battery. Journal of Clinical Movement Disorders [Internet]. 2017 Dec [cited 2019 Dec 10];4(1). Available from: http://clinicalmovementdisorders.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40734-017-0060-4
2. Goldman JG. Writer’s cramp. Toxicon. 2015 Dec 1;107(Pt A):98–104.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/custom-made-application-interface-using-wacom-tablet-for-assessment-of-writers-cramp/