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Light finger contact concurrently reduces postural sway and enhances signal detection performance in children with
Fu-Chen Chen1, Chia-Liang Tsai2
1Department of Recreational Sport & Health Promotion, National Pingtung University of Science & Technology, Taiwan.
Insights
Light finger touch helps children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typically developing children improve balance and sensory detection. This simple technique reduces postural sway and enhances signal detection performance in both groups.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Human Movement Science
Background:
- Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) often exhibit impaired postural control and sensory processing.
- Light finger touch is a sensory input that may influence motor performance and balance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of light finger touch on postural sway and signal detection in children with DCD and typically developing children (TDC).
- To compare the effectiveness of light finger touch between these two groups.
Main Methods:
- Participants included 30 children with DCD and 30 TDC, aged approximately 11-12 years.
- Postural sway (anteroposterior and mediolateral axes) and signal detection performance were measured under no finger touch and light finger touch conditions.
- A signal detection task was employed to assess sensory processing abilities.
Main Results:
- Children with DCD showed significantly greater postural sway and poorer signal detection than TDC.
- Light finger touch significantly reduced postural sway and improved signal detection in both groups compared to no finger touch.
- The magnitude of improvement in postural sway with light finger touch was greater in TDC, while the enhancement in signal detection was more pronounced in children with DCD.
Conclusions:
- Light finger touch serves as an effective sensory strategy to concurrently improve postural stability and signal detection performance in both children with DCD and typically developing children.
- This finding suggests potential for simple, non-invasive interventions to aid individuals with motor and sensory challenges.
Abstract:
The current study examined the effects of light finger touch on postural sway and signal detection performance in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Children with DCD (n=30; 18 boys, 12 girls; age=11.87 ± 0.48 years) and typically developing children (n=30; 14 boys, 16 girls; age=11.73 ± 0.52 years) were recruited from schools in Pintung County, Taiwan. Participants completed a signal detection task under no finger touch (NT) and light finger touch (LT) conditions, while postural sway in both anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) axes was recorded. In both conditions, children with DCD exhibited significantly higher levels of postural sway (p<0.05) and lower signal detection performances (p<0.05) than TDC. Additionally, both groups significantly reduced postural sway (p<0.05) and enhanced signal detection performance (p<0.05) when engaged in light finger touch compared with no finger touch. While the effect of LT on postural sway was greater among TDC relative to children with DCD (p<0.05), the effect of LT on signal detection was greater in children with DCD compared with TDC (p<0.05). These results suggest that light finger touch is effective in concurrently reducing postural sway and enhancing signal detection in both groups.
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