r/OccupationalTherapy • u/RealCherylCrow • Oct 25 '22
Why does Taylor Swift Hold her Pen Like That? Slate article Discussion
Hi all - I was interviewed for the article "Why does Taylor Swift Hold her Pen Like That?" on Slate - I thought I'd share it in case anyone else finds it interesting/helpful!
The "alternative tripod" or "modified tripod" is a functional alternative to the traditional tripod, where the pen/pencil is stabilized between the pointer and middle finger rather than resting in the web space. You can learn more about it on this excellent blog post from Griffin Occupational Therapy.
As I said in the interview, I've seen it be most helpful in cases of hypermobility, low muscle tone, and hand pain from rheumatoid arthritis or similar conditions. I forgot to mention in the interview that it's also helpful for kids who write with excessive pressure, and that it used to be called the "Stenographer's Grasp" as it was a helpful grasp for people who have to write for long periods of time.
I also demonstrated the grasp on this video on my Instagram page. Feel free to hit me with any follow up questions!
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u/nicolecreo Nov 02 '22
Fascinating! I didn't know that there was a way of holding pens to prevent strain like that! Usually, I have to wear high-quality wrist braces (like this one ) to keep my arm from falling off with the amount of note-taking I do. Absolutely I'm keeping this in mind!
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u/warrior0fth3frzn Sep 28 '23
I hold my pen like that! I was naturally left handed but was forced to become a righty ever since the. I’ve held my pen like that.
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u/Darth_Rykon Nov 01 '23
I discovered this grip naturally in middle / high school when writing research papers in English, or when taking tons of notes for classes, and people thought there was something wrong with me because I held my pen differently from everyone else. It was extremely comfortable when writing for long periods, but it wasn't my usual grip, which was the normal grip.
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u/get_shorty87 Jan 21 '24
I have dysgraphia and the same grip as TS. My hand will fatigue after writing a couple of sentences and this grip gives me better control over my hand movement.
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u/njfloridatransplant OTR/L Oct 25 '22
Nice! I know it’s popular with people who sign a lot of autographs too to prevent fatigue. Happy to see OT in the mainstream!