Evaluating the evidence for motor-based interventions in developmental coordination disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities 2018-03, Vol.74, p.72-102
• Main Authors: Smits-Engelsman, Bouwien, Vinçon, Sabine, Blank, Rainer, Quadrado, Virgínia H., Polatajko, Helene, Wilson, Peter H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child; Developmental coordination disorder; Exercise - physiology; Exercise - psychology; Humans; Intervention; Motor impairment; Motor skill disorders; Motor skill programmes; Motor Skills; Motor Skills Disorders - physiopathology; Motor Skills Disorders - psychology; Motor Skills Disorders - therapy; Occupational therapy; Physical activity; Physical therapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Psychomotor Performance; Systematic review; Task oriented training; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2018.01.002

•Findings extend support for the effectiveness of activity-oriented, as well as body function-oriented approaches when combined with activities.•An important new finding was the evidence of training effectiveness when programs were conducted in a small group format and for programs aiming at improved physical fitness.•Data suggest that active computer-assisted training can be a useful adjunct treatment, but the active ingredients are unknown.•Relatively short duration interventions still demonstrated positive treatment effects.•Comparison studies between approaches and groups (age, gender, severity, whether referred or selected and with co-occurring conditions) are needed. As part of the process of creating an update of the clinical practice guidelines for developmental coordination disorder (DCD) (Blank, Smits-Engelsman, Polatajko, & Wilson, 2012), a systematic review of intervention studies, published since the last guidelines statement was conducted. The aim of this study was to 1) systematically review the evidence published from January 2012 to February 2017 regarding the effectiveness of motor based interventions in individuals with DCD, 2) quantify treatment effects using a meta-analysis, 3) examine the available information on different aspects of delivery including use of group intervention, duration and frequency of therapy, and 4) identify gaps in the literature and make recommendations for future intervention research. An electronic search of 5 databases (PubMed, Embase, Pedro, Scopus and Cochrane) was conducted for studies that evaluated motor-based interventions to improve performance for individuals with DCD. Thirty studies covering 25 datasets were included, 19 of which provided outcomes on standardized measures of motor performance. The overall effect size (Cohen’s d) across intervention studies was large (1.06), but the range was wide: for 11 interventions, the observed effect was large (>0.80), in eight studies moderate (>0.50), and in five it was small or negligible (