Motor skills intervention research of children with disabilities

Area of Science:

• Pediatric rehabilitation
• Disability studies
• Public health

Background:

• Physical inactivity and obesity are significant concerns for children with physical and cognitive disabilities.
• Children's motor skill development is a key factor influencing lifelong physical activity levels and obesity risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate existing literature on motor skill interventions for children with physical and cognitive disabilities.
• To identify trends, gaps, and recommendations for future research in this area.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive electronic literature search was conducted for studies published between 1984 and 2014.
• Findings were systematically categorized by intervention study characteristics, research designs, diagnostic methods, intervention types, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria, with participants diagnosed with developmental delay (42.8%), autism (19.0%), and other disabilities.
• The majority of studies focused on specific disability groups, with limited research on cross-disability interventions.
• Only one study employed a randomized controlled trial design, indicating a need for more rigorous research methodologies.

Conclusions:

• Current motor skill intervention research is diverse but lacks broad generalizability across different disability groups.
• Future research should prioritize developing adaptable, cross-disability interventions, potentially leveraging technology.
• Emphasizing sound methodology, theoretical frameworks, and family/community involvement is crucial for effective intervention delivery.