Neuromuscular training for children with developmental coordination disorder: A randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) often exhibit impaired adaptive balance control.
• Neuromuscular training (NMT) is a common intervention, but its scientific efficacy for DCD balance is unproven.
• This study investigated NMT's impact on balance and muscle activation in children with DCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if NMT improves adaptive balance performance in children with DCD.
• To assess NMT's effect on leg muscle activation times during balance tasks.
• To provide scientific evidence on NMT's effectiveness for DCD.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-eight children with DCD were randomized into NMT or control groups.
• The NMT group received 3 months of training; the control group received none.
• Outcomes (sway energy score, muscle activation latencies) were measured at baseline, 3, and 6 months.

Main Results:

• No significant improvements in balance (sway energy score) were observed at 3 months.
• A modest 6.8% decrease in toes-down sway energy score was noted in the NMT group at 6 months (P=.004).
• No significant effects of NMT on leg muscle activation onset latencies were found.

Conclusions:

• Short-term NMT (3 months) is ineffective for improving adaptive balance or muscle activation in children with DCD.
• Future research should focus on longer-term, task-specific interventions.
• The clinical application of extended NMT protocols warrants further investigation.