Action Observation and Motor Imagery in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Motor Control

Background:

• Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) significantly impacts children's motor skills and daily activities.
• Action Observation (AO) and Motor Imagery (MI) are effective in other neurological conditions but under-researched in DCD.
• This review examines the preliminary evidence for AO and MI interventions in children with DCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the preliminary evidence of Action Observation (AO) and Motor Imagery (MI) interventions.
• To assess the impact of AO and MI on motor and functional outcomes in children with DCD.
• To synthesize findings from randomized controlled trials and controlled trials.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies in the last 15 years.
• Inclusion of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled trials (CTs) involving children with DCD.
• Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment using RoB2 and ROBINS-I, adhering to PRISMA guidelines.

Main Results:

• Seven studies with 199 children (aged 5-12) were included, using AO, MI, or combined interventions.
• Improvements noted in motor imagery tasks, planning, and functional task performance (ADLs).
• RCTs and CTs showed moderate and high risk of bias, respectively.

Conclusions:

• AO and MI interventions show potential for enhancing motor planning, coordination, and functional skills in children with DCD.
• These mental training approaches are suitable for clinical and everyday settings, with VR showing promise.
• Findings require cautious interpretation due to heterogeneity and risk of bias, necessitating further research.