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Motor and postural response profiles of four children with developmental coordination disorder
Joanne M Inder1, S John Sullivan
1School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Insights
Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) exhibit significant balance impairments and motor skill deficits. Posturography reveals increased sway and falls, indicating underlying sensory processing issues affecting postural control.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Motor Control Research
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) affects motor skill acquisition.
- Children with DCD often present with balance and postural control challenges.
- Understanding these deficits is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To profile postural responses in children with DCD.
- To evaluate motor skill performance in this population.
- To identify underlying mechanisms contributing to balance deficits.
Main Methods:
- Involved four children diagnosed with DCD, aged 9-12 years.
- Utilized the computerized Sensory Organization Test (SOT) for posturography.
- Collected data on case background, school, and motor skill performance.
Main Results:
- All participants showed significant impairment in balance and motor performance.
- Increased sway and falls were observed across all SOT sensory conditions.
- Equilibrium and sensory scores were notably lower than peers, resembling younger age groups.
Conclusions:
- Sensory Organization Test data illuminate balance deficits in DCD.
- Findings suggest sensory deficits are key in postural control issues.
- Recommend incorporating sensory processing assessments into DCD interventions.
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to present a descriptive profile of the postural responses and motor skill performance of four children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD).
Methods:
Four children with DCD, aged nine to 12 years participated. A profile of each child's case background, school performance, and motor skill performance was developed, in addition to the collection of data from three sessions of posturography trials on the computerized Sensory Organization Test (SOT).
Results:
All four children had a significant degree of impairment in balance responses and limitations in motor performance, with increased sway and frequency of falls in all sensory conditions on the SOT in comparison with peers. Mean equilibrium scores were between one and two standard deviations below peer averages, and sensory scores showed performance levels similar to those of younger age groups. There was a high level of variability associated with repeated SOTs.
Conclusions:
The SOT data provide further insight into the underlying mechanisms that contribute to balance deficits experienced by children with DCD and suggest that assessment and therapeutic approaches take into account sensory deficits in postural control.
