The effect of task-specific balance training program in dual-task and single-task conditions on balance performance in children with developmental coordination disorder

Systematic Review to Inform the Developmental Coordination Disorder Clinical Practice Guideline Update: Physical Therapy Intervention

PURPOSE

Systematically review current evidence on physical therapy (PT) intervention for developmental coordination disorder (DCD) to inform the update to the 2020 DCD Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG).

METHODS

Eight databases were searched for qualitative studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews (SRs) that informed PT management of DCD. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies were included. Three SRs, 3 RCTs, and 1 qualitative study supported task-oriented interventions, the first-choice intervention recommended by the 2020 DCD CPG. One SR and 7 RCTs supported supplemental activities, including a meta-analysis of 2 studies on active video gaming. One qualitative study informed how physical therapists adapt motor learning strategies for children with DCD.

CONCLUSION

Newer evidence reaffirms 3 of the 5 recommendations on intervention of the 2020 DCD CPG and adds low to very low-quality evidence on new evidence-informed supplemental activities.

Transfer of motor and strategy learning in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD): A scoping review

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a developmental disorder that affects the learning and execution of motor skills. Little is known about their ability to transfer their learning, i.e. to adapt prior knowledge to new tasks (Hattie & Donoghue, 2016). This is an important issue in these children, both to better understand how they can adapt initial learning to new tasks, and to develop interventions that will enable them to transfer their knowledge into their daily lives. The aim of this scoping review is to assess the body and nature of the existing literature on transfer of learning in children with DCD. After a search in 4 databases, 58 publications meeting the inclusion criteria were included. Among the studies, 18 aimed at measuring transfer, other can be interpreted as measuring transfer of learning even if transfer is not explicitly mentioned by the authors. The results show that children with DCD seem to have difficulty transferring their motor learning when the transfer tasks are far from the trained tasks but seem able to transfer their learning when the transfer tasks remain close, however they can transfer cognitive strategies to more distant transfer tasks. Future research is needed to systematically assess different aspects of transfer, with the aim of proposing effective interventions for children with DCD.

The Effects of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents with Developmental Coordination Disorder

The purpose of this literature review was to detect and study the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention programs, such as physical activities and sports, on children and adolescents with Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder (DCD) to improve their motor skills. The sample for this study consisted of 48 (100%) papers, specifically, 40 (83.5%) articles, 3 (6.2%) doctoral theses, 2 (4.1%) master's theses and 3 (6.2%) papers from conference proceedings from the year 2014 to 2022. To search the sample, the following terms were used: DCD or dyspraxia, physical activity programs, intervention, physical intervention, physical education, etc. The results for the existence of statistically significant results and internal validity of intervention programs using physical activities and sports in children and adolescents with DCD showed that a large number of intervention programs improved the children's motor skills as well as their daily functionality. In contrast, other interventions failed to improve dynamic and static balance. The negative result could be due either to the short duration of the interventions or to the improper suboptimal design-organization of the methodology of these programs-such as the heterogeneous intervention samples and the use of inappropriate and reliable assessment tools.

Feasibility of Using Multiplayer Game-Based Dual-Task Training with Augmented Reality and Personal Health Record on Social Skills and Cognitive Function in Children with Autism

The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate the feasibility of multiplayer game contents with dual-task exercises using augmented reality (AR) and a personal health record (PHR) system for social skills and cognitive function in children with autism. The present study used a single group pretest-posttest study design with fourteen children diagnosed with autism and aged 6-16 years. The intervention consisted of various game contents designed specifically with cognitive and motor tasks, performed for 30 min per session, twice a week, for three weeks. Outcome measures were conducted before and after the intervention and included social skills and cognitive function. A satisfactory survey was conducted post-intervention to assess the usability of the performed games. As result, statistically significant improvements were observed in all subscales of the social skills and cognitive function expected in two subscales of each measured outcome. Parents and children appreciated the overall game program, and no risk of injury and dizziness were mentioned. This preliminary study found that multiplayer game-based dual-task training using AR and PHR was feasible and has a promising efficacy for children with autism. However, there is the need to conduct a randomized control study with a large sample size.