Manual skill performance by box and blocks test in brazilian children and adolescents

Abstract

The Box and Blocks Test (BBT) has been shown to be effective in evaluating manual dexterity, which is characterized by the ability of the hands and fingers to perform a task requiring coordinated movements, such as manipulating objects under the speed, force. The aim of this study was to characterize the performance of manual dexterity by BBT for the age group between 7 and 14 years. The study consisted of 105 participants, both sexes, divided into two groups: (7-10 years) and (11-14) without presenting upper limb abnormalities. The results showed better performance for the preferred side (right) in the BBT. Regarding the comparison of groups by age, the group of 11-14 year olds performed better, proving that the greater the age, the test performance for both hands is better (p = 0,000 for preferred hand and not preferred hand for the female and p = 0.000 and p = 0.001 for preferred hand and not preferred hand in males). It can be concluded that, for the study population with typical development, the performance in the test box and blocks was better for the oldest age group for both hands and that, from the data collected, it was possible to present performance parameters for this test in the age group between 07 and 14 years old, age which had not been contemplated in the original study proposal by Mathiowetz in 1985.