Browsing by Author "Tatarescu, Vlad"
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- Forensic handwriting characterization after rehabilitation intervention in people with Parkinson's disease : pilot studyPublication . Tatarescu, Vlad; Bernardo, Maria Alexandra; Santana, Catarina Godinho; Família, Carlos; Fernandes, CarinaGraphoscopic analysis of handwriting is influenced by various internal and external factors, and individuals with degenerative diseases like Parkinson's face challenges due to limitations in motor abilities, impacting Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) such as handwriting skills. The absence of encouraging outcomes from interventions in handwriting rehabilitation programs and graphoscopic assessment tools, persists as an ongoing challenge. This pilot study undertook an investigation into the forensi characterization of handwriting in people with Parkinson's Disease (PD). The main goal was to evaluate and compare the effect of 2 rehabilitation programs on handwriting, particularly, regarding 9 static and dynamic features, in individuals with PD. Additionally, this study contributed to the development of a comprehensive protocol, incorporating the most suitable and discriminatory clinical and graphoscopic assessment tools in the context of PD, and to formulate an occupational therapy rehabilitation program focused on enhancing the dexterity and fine motor skills of the upper limbs, crucial for improved performance in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). The pilot clinical trial involved two groups: an intervention group (IG) undergoing traditional physiotherapy and occupational therapy programs (TPRP + OTRP), and a control group (CG) undergoing traditional physiotherapy alone (TPRP). The objective was to characterize and compare handwriting before and after the rehabilitation programs. Participants underwent assessments at the study's commencement and after 12 weeks of intervention. Graphoscopic assessment utilized a Wacom One DTC133W0A tablet and NeuroScript's v6.1 MovAlyzeR software. Clinical assessments included the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test, Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rate Scale, and the Parkinson Disease Questionnaire 8 tests. Results indicated a trend toward reduced symptoms like tremor and bradykinesia, alongside improvements in dynamic features such as average absolute velocity, horizontal size, and average pen pressure. While clinical assessment tools proved suitable, the graphoscopic evaluation fell short compared to existing studies. Nevertheless, the study offered valuable insights for developing a robust handwriting rehabilitation protocol for individuals with PD and an autonomous rehabilitation tool - the Handbook for Handwriting and Occupational Therapy Exercises (H2OTE).