Efficacy of an ergonomic handwriting pen – a monocenter randomised controlled counter-balanced trial

Even though increasing digitalisation reduces handwriting activities, the intensive use of a handwriting tool can lead to problems in the hand or finger areas. Since these problems are often induced by too much pressure and excessive forces during the handwriting process, an ideal design shall help in reducing them. Such an innovative design will be investigated in a cooperative study with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Occupational Therapy Physiotherapy Research and Development

Term: 01.05.2021 — 31.12.2024

This clinical investigation is a monocenter, prospective, randomised, controlled, counter-balanced, two-arm study investigating the effects of a novel ergonomic handwriting pen. The study follows the standards for clinical studies (GCP and GSP), was approved by the ethics boards of the University of Applied Sciences for Health Professions Upper Austria and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05077046).

The aim of this scientific study is to assess the impact of an ergonomic handwriting pen regarding:

comfort, hand fatigue and pain during the writing process
handwriting performance / ability and
usability.

The obtained results shall be used to further develop new pens for persons with motor skills deficits in the hand area. This study is the first cooperative study for both universities and shall intensify the existing research alliance.