Differences in Gait between Children with and Without Developmental Coordination Disorder

Abstract

In the present study the walking pattern of 10 children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) was investigated and compared to that of 10 typically developing, matched control children. All children walked at a similar velocity that was scaled to the length of the leg on a motor-driven treadmill. Three-dimensional kinematics were recorded with a motion capture digital camera system. The spatiotemporal parameters of the gait pattern revealed that children with DCD walked with shorter steps and at a higher frequency than the typically developing children. In addition, the children with DCD exhibited a body configuration that demonstrated increased trunk inclination during the entire gait cycle and enhanced during the entire gait cycle. At toe-off a less pronounced plantar flexion of the ankle was observed in children with DCD. In conclusion, it appeared that children with DCD make adaptations to their gait pattern on a treadmill to compensate for problems with neuromuscular and/or balance control. These adaptations seem to result in a safer walking strategy where the compromise between equilibrium and propulsion is different compared to typically developing children.

Level walking in adults with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder: An analysis of movement variability

“…The finding also suggests that the group difference between children with DCD and their peers while walking on a treadmill (Deconinck, et al, 2006) may be an artifact of the task demands. Walking on a treadmill may force a consistent and possibly artificial walking speed rather than be indicative of any differences apparent in natural level-ground walking.…”

“…However, this does not pinpoint the exact nature of the problem and combining variables in this way may statistically increase small differences. Deconinck et al (2006) examined the same foot placement measures in children with DCD while walking on a treadmill and found that children with DCD took shorter steps and walked at a higher frequency than their peers. They concluded that these children adapt their walking pattern to compensate for difficulty with balance control.…”

“…The aims of the current study were, firstly to consider the walking pattern of adults with DCD using similar foot placement measures to those previously used in children with DCD (Cherng, et al, 2009;Deconinck, et al, 2006;Deconinck, et al, 2010); and secondly to examine velocity and acceleration of the body and measures of movement variability which have previously been considered in older adults but not in work on DCD. Given the previous research with children with DCD we would not expect any overt differences in foot placement measures on level-ground walking.…”

The effectiveness of a fundamental motor skill intervention in pre-schoolers with motor problems depends on gender but not environmental context

“…Alternatively, these findings highlight that part of the children may require a more individualized approach or have more pervasive developmental disorders. For example, deviant and less efficient behaviour in both locomotor and object control skills have been observed in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), despite long therapeutic interventions (Deconinck et al, 2006a(Deconinck et al, , 2006b). …”

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Developmental Coordination Disorder: a discussion of the neural underpinnings

“…Déficits em habilidades motoras grossas e finas 24,25 , equilíbrio 26,27 , controle postural e marcha [28][29][30] têm sido reportados no TDAH e no TDC, tanto quando ocorrem sozinhos quanto quando são comórbidos. Esses achados têm influenciado a discussão de diferentes hipóteses para explicar as dificuldades motoras nas crianças com TDAH, que se dividem basicamente em duas vertentes: a primeira sugere que as dificuldades motoras sejam atribuídas à tríade sintomatológica básica (desatenção, hiperatividade e impulsividade), sendo assim decorrente do próprio TDAH, e a segunda que os problemas motores no TDAH sejam secundários à comorbidade, particularmente com o TDC 31 .…”