抄録
Developmental changes in the handling motion of chopsticks and writing motion of a pencil were studied in elementary and junior high school students. The handling motion of chopsticks and the writing motion of a pencil were respectively classified into four (I to IV) and five (A to E) types. The linkage between the motion type for chopsticks and that for a pencil was also examined. The relative proportion of type I (conventional) increased with increasing age, while those for types II (less complete) and III (incomplete) decreased with increasing age. The relative proportion of type IV (others) was 14%, being independent of age. The relative proportion of type A (conventional) was 42% in three age groups. The total relative proportion of types B (less complete folding of the thumb), C (extended thumb) and D (forefinger control) were 39%. The total numbers of types I and II were 79% for all subjects, with 44% and 56% of these subjects being respectively assigned to types A and B to E (others). The number of type A was 42% of all subjects, with 83% of these subjects being assigned to types I and II. These results suggest that development of the handling motion for chopsticks was slower than that of the writing motions for a pencil, and that the age at which many students attain type I capability may be at least 15 years old.
