Compared to TD children, those with DCD have more difficulty estimating reach distances using the longer of two tool lengths: 40 cm compared to 20 cm. This finding may be related to differences in quality of motor imagery and in the ability to create an effective internal model for action in this context. Furthermore, our results suggest that tool length may present an additional action processing constraint on children with DCD. Additional studies are necessary to determine other constraints that children with DCD have when integrating tool use with spatial judgments for reach actions, as well as provide rehabilitation insights that involve motor imagery combined with tool use.
Handwriting is a core deficit in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Fifty children were tested with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition; Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Short Form; Evaluation Tool of Children's Handwriting (ETCH); McMaster Handwriting Assessment Protocol; and Beery-Buktenica Test of Visual–Motor Integration (Beery–VMI–6). The results showed significant differences in components of the ETCH between groups (p < .05) and significant relationships between handwriting (ETCH and Beery–VMI–6) and motor ability measures (r > .30). We conclude that the ETCH and the Beery–VMI–6 are sensitive measures of handwriting ability for children with probable DCD, but more research is needed to identify a gold-standard assessment for evaluating handwriting in this population.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of two group programs on visual-motor integration, motor proficiency, gross-motor skills, and parental perception of motor difficulties in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). We compared whether the frequency of two programs (10 one hour sessions - once/week for 10 weeks verses 24 one hour sessions – twice/week for 12 weeks) produced different changes in motor skills. Methods: Children in the two programs were assessed before and after each program with the MABC-2, DCD-Q, BOT-2, Beery-VMI-6, and the TGMD-2 assessments. The emphasis of the programs was on group activities that required collaboration while performing skills that utilized upper-body coordination, balance, and fine-motor abilities. Results: After the 24-session intervention program, results revealed significant improvements in the Manual Coordination and Total Score of the BOT-2 (ps < .05), and parents reported significantly higher scores for all categories of the DCD-Q (ps < .05). No significant changes were observed after the 10-session once/week intervention program. Conclusions: We conclude that a (24 one-hour sessions- twice a week for 12 weeks) group intervention program can be an effective intervention method for improvement of motor skills in children with DCD. We recommend that allied health professionals consider the group intervention as a feasible way to promote more frequent sessions to children with DCD.
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