Submaximal oxygen cost during incremental exercise in children with developmental coordination disorder

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Exercise Physiology
• Motor Development
• Biophysics

Background:

• Limited research exists on submaximal aerobic power differences in children with probable developmental coordination disorder (pDCD).
• Understanding aerobic capacity at submaximal levels is crucial as daily activities are typically performed at these intensities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the oxygen cost of work (VO2) during incremental exercise in children with and without pDCD.
• To compare submaximal aerobic power and efficiency between matched groups of children.

Main Methods:

• A nested case-control study matched 63 children with pDCD to 63 typically developing controls (12-13 years old).
• Motor coordination was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children.
• Oxygen cost (VO2) was measured during a cycle ergometer incremental exercise protocol.

Main Results:

• Children with pDCD exhibited significantly lower peak VO2 values compared to controls (35.0 vs. 42.9 ml/kg/min).
• After controlling for body fat and peak VO2, children with pDCD demonstrated a greater oxygen cost (VO2 ml/kg/min) at any given submaximal exercise intensity (p=0.0006).
• A significant interaction indicated that the difference in VO2 between groups increased with higher workloads.

Conclusions:

• Children with pDCD have a higher oxygen cost to sustain the same submaximal workload, indicating reduced aerobic efficiency.
• These findings suggest that children with pDCD may experience earlier fatigue during physical exertion compared to their typically developing peers.