Changes in dynamic balance control over time in children with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder

Area of Science:

• Motor Control
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) affects motor skills in children.
• Dynamic balance is crucial for daily activities and is often impaired in DCD.
• Video games offer novel platforms for assessing and intervening in motor control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate dynamic balance control differences between children with DCD and typically developing (TD) children using a Wii Fit game.
• To analyze changes in balance control over time and following an intervention in both groups.

Main Methods:

• Force plate analysis of dynamic balance during a Wii Fit ski slope task.
• Comparison of balance parameters (path length, Center of Pressure displacement, reversals) between DCD and TD groups.
• Assessment of changes before and after a non-intervention period and a subsequent intervention.

Main Results:

• Initially, TD children exhibited longer path lengths and more lateral Center of Pressure (CoP) variation than DCD children.
• TD children showed fewer CoP reversals per cm, while DCD children improved by increasing path length and decreasing reversals after the non-intervention period.
• Post-intervention, no significant changes in sway characteristics were observed, but DCD children's performance approached that of TD children.

Conclusions:

• Both typically developing children and those with DCD can modify dynamic balance control strategies.
• Adaptations in balance control differ between DCD and TD groups, yet both lead to improved performance.
• The Wii Fit game provides a sensitive tool for evaluating and potentially improving dynamic balance in pediatric populations.