Sensory organization of balance control in children with developmental coordination disorder

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities 2011-11, Vol.32 (6), p.2376-2382
• Main Authors: Fong, Shirley S.M., Lee, Velma Y.L., Pang, Marco Y.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accounting; Activity; Assessment; Biological and medical sciences; Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology; Child; Child clinical studies; Children; Clumsy children; Comparative Analysis; Control Groups; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developmental coordination disorder; Developmental Disabilities; Developmental disorders; Diversity; Evaluation; Female; Head Movements - physiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Disorders; Miscellaneous; Motor Activity - physiology; Motor Skills Disorders - physiopathology; Motor Skills Disorders - rehabilitation; Multiple Regression Analysis; Perceptual Motor Coordination; Postural Balance - physiology; Postural control; Posture; Proprioception - physiology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Psychomotor Skills; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Rehabilitation; Scores; Sensory Training; Statistical Analysis; Vestibule, Labyrinth - physiology
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2011.07.025

► Children with DCD demonstrate deficits in sensory organization of balance control. ► The ability to use visual information to maintain balance is the most impaired. ► Suboptimal balance is associated with lower participation diversity. This study aimed to (1) compare functional balance performance and sensory organization of postural control between children with and without developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and (2) determine the association between postural control and participation diversity among children with DCD. We recruited 81 children with DCD and 67 typically developing children. Balance was evaluated with the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (Movement ABC-2). Participation patterns were evaluated using the Children Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment assessment. Analysis of variance was used to compare outcome variables between the two groups. A multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between participation diversity and balance performance in children with DCD. The DCD group had significantly lower Movement ABC-2 balance scores, SOT-derived equilibrium scores, and sensory ratios than the control group ( p < 0.05). However, only the Movement ABC-2 balance score was significantly associated with participation diversity in children with DCD. After accounting for the effects of age and gender, Movement ABC-2 balance score remained significantly associated with participation diversity, explaining 10.9% of the variance ( F change1,77 = 9.494, p = 0.003). Children with DCD demonstrate deficits in sensory organization of balance control. This suboptimal balance ability contributes to limited participation in activities.