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Autonomous nervous system modulation in supine and standing postures in children with probable developmental
Daniel T Gama1,2, Marcela C Ferracioli-Gama2,3, José A Barela2
1Faculty of Education, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil.
Insights
Children with probable-Developmental Coordination Disorder (p-DCD) exhibit similar autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation to typically developing peers. Physical fitness and body mass index may protect ANS function despite higher stress symptoms in children with p-DCD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is linked to poor physical fitness and psychosocial issues.
- Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) dysfunction is associated with adverse health outcomes, including reduced aerobic capacity and increased stress.
- Investigating ANS modulation in children with DCD, considering factors like physical fitness and stress, is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) modulation in children with probable-DCD (p-DCD) during postural changes (supine to standing).
- To evaluate the influence of stress and anxiety symptoms on ANS modulation in children with p-DCD.
- To compare ANS function between children with p-DCD and typically developing (TD) children.
Main Methods:
- Thirty children aged 8-12 years were divided into p-DCD and TD groups, matched for age, gender, aerobic power, and BMI.
- Participants underwent stress/anxiety questionnaires and heart rate variability (HRV) analysis (spectral, symbolic, complexity) during supine and standing postures.
- HRV assessed ANS modulation, reflecting parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system activity.
Main Results:
- Children with p-DCD reported higher stress symptoms than TD children.
- No significant differences in HRV-based ANS modulation were found between p-DCD and TD groups during postural changes.
- Both groups demonstrated expected ANS patterns: parasympathetic dominance in supine and sympathetic dominance in standing.
Conclusions:
- Children with p-DCD show comparable autonomic control to TD children during postural transitions.
- Stress and anxiety symptoms in children with p-DCD did not appear to negatively impact their ANS modulation.
- Aerobic fitness and BMI may act as protective factors for ANS modulation in children with p-DCD.
Background:
Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are known to have poor physical fitness and psychosocial problems. The autonomous nervous system (ANS) plays an essential role in the regulation of human neurophysiological processes. Inadequate ANS modulation has been associated with harmful health conditions such as poor aerobic power, high body mass index, and symptoms of stress and anxiety. Modulation of ANS in children with DCD needs to be further investigated taking into consideration variables that may influence its function. For instance, would the level of physical fitness or the symptoms of stress and anxiety affect the ANS modulation of children with DCD?
Aims:
To examine the ANS modulation during supine and standing postures, and stress/anxiety with questionnaire data from children with probable-DCD (p-DCD).
Methods:
and procedures: Thirty children, 8-12 years old, composed two groups paired by age, gender, peak volume of oxygen uptake (aerobic power), and body mass index (BMI): p-DCD (9 boys, mean age 10.8 y) and typically developing (TD). Both groups were compared for stress/anxiety assessment by questionnaire and spectral, symbolic, and complexity heart rate variability (HRV) analyses during posture changes.
Outcomes And Results:
p-DCD group showed higher stress symptoms than TD group for stress/anxiety assessment in the questionnaire's data, but HRV analyses showed no differences between the two groups. Both groups showed parasympathetic prevalence during supine posture and sympathetic prevalence during standing posture.
Conclusions And Implications:
Children with p-DCD had similar autonomic control function as TD children during posture change (supine to standing). Symptoms of stress and anxiety demonstrated by p-DCD did not impact their ANS modulation. These results indicate that aerobic power and BMI are probable protective factors of ANS modulation for these children.
