A clinical trial of the process-oriented treatment approach for children with developmental co-ordination disorder

The process-oriented treatment (POR chi) approach is a time-limited programme aimed at increasing the kinaesthetic performance of children with mild motor problems in order to improve their motor performance. The approach was compared with a traditional or general motor approach and with no treatment in a randomized clinical trial of 75 children with developmental co-ordination disorder. The children were assessed before and after treatment and after a six-week follow-up period. The results were mixed. The study provides evidence of the severity of so-called 'mild' motor problems of children referred to occupational therapy. The data suggest that these children do not improve spontaneously, and that their motor problems are very resistant to treatment. The data also suggest that an appropriate treatment strategy might be one that involves direct, repetitive training of a specific skill.