Arterial stiffness in children with and without probable developmental coordination disorder

Association Between Developmental Coordination Disorder Traits, Autistic Traits, and Emotional/Behavioral Problems in Japanese Preschool Children

Background/Objectives: Few studies have examined the association between developmental coordination disorder (DCD) traits and emotional/behavioral problems in preschool children, considering the influence of autistic traits. Furthermore, no consistent results have been obtained. The aim of this study was to investigate how DCD traits in preschool children are related to emotional/behavioral problems, controlling for the effects of autistic traits. Methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to 277 parents of children (154 boys, 73.0 ± 3.8 months) who underwent the school physical examination in Y city near Tokyo, Japan, from October to December 2021. The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire-Japanese version (DCDQ-J) was used to measure DCD traits, the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) was used to measure autistic traits, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to measure emotional/behavioral problems. In the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, the SDQ was the dependent variable, with gender entered in Step 1, ASSQ in Step 2, and DCDQ in Step 3. Results: The results showed that autistic traits are associated with preschool children's emotional/behavioral problems, but even after controlling for autistic traits, higher DCD traits had a relationship with higher conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, and peer problems and lower prosocial behavior of preschool children. Conclusions: This result indicates the need for the support of children with motor skill difficulties. Additionally, a focus on mitigating DCD traits not only improves motor skills but also prevents emotional/behavioral problems in preschool children.

Adverse childhood experiences are associated with altered cardiovascular reactivity to head-up tilt in young adults

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with greater prevalence of cardiovascular disease and altered acute stress reactivity. The current study investigated the effect of ACEs on hemodynamic and autonomic responses to orthostatic stress imposed by 60° head-up tilt (HUT) in young adults. Two-hundred twenty-six healthy young adults (age = 22.6 ± 1.5 yr; n = 116 females) without cardiovascular disease participated and had complete data. Participants underwent supine blood pressure (BP), R-R interval (RRI), cardiac output (CO), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (cvBRS) testing followed by a transition to 60° HUT where measures were reassessed. Childhood adversity exposures were assessed based on categorical exposure and nonexposure to childhood household dysfunction and maltreatment, and <4 and ≥4 types of ACEs. Significantly greater increases in SBP (P < 0.05), DBP, MAP, and TPR (P < 0.01; all) following 60° HUT were observed in individuals with ≥4 compared with those with <4 types of ACEs. Attenuated decreases in RRI and cvBRS were observed in those with ≥4 types of ACEs (P < 0.05). Experiencing ≥4 types of ACEs was associated with augmented BP and TPR reactivity and a blunted decrease in cvBRS in response to 60° HUT in young adults. Results suggest that a reduced vagal response to orthostatic stress is present in those who have experienced ≥4 types of ACEs that may promote autonomic dysfunction. Future research examining the sympathetic and vagal baroreflex branches is warranted.

The effect of karate interventions on the motor proficiency of female adolescents with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) from high and low socio-economic status

Background

There is not a general consensus on the best type of intervention to improve the motor proficiency (MP) of adolescents with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Considering the effect of socio-economic status (SES) in relation to the MP of adolescents with DCD, it is necessary to examine this issue further. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Karate-Do interventions on the MP of adolescents with DCD from high/low SES.

Methods

Participants included 16 adolescent girls (12 to 13 years old) with DCD, and their classification into high/low SES groups was done by using appropriate previously validated questionnaire. A short form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2), was used to assess fine motor precision, fine motor integration, manual dexterity, upper limb coordination, bilateral coordination, balance, strength, speed, agility, and overall MP level of the participants. Both high/low-SES groups completed a specifically prescribed Karate-Do intervention program for 8 consecutive weeks (3 sessions per week with each session lasting for 75 min).

Results

Results from this 8-week intervention showed that the pattern of change in manual dexterity, bilateral coordination, strength and the total MP score improved over time in both groups with varied socioeconomic backgrounds. Specifically, the high-SES group performed significantly better than their low-SES counterparts during the 8-week Karate-Do intervention (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Following participants’ completion of the Karate-Do intervention, the existence of significant changes in the MP of adolescents’ with DCD at high/low SES confirmed our hypothesis. Compared to the low-SES group, adolescents with high SES displayed superior MP following the intervention. It seems that karate (kata) training serves as a good alternative for rehabilitation MP programs, however, an important issue concerning social infrastructure is to create a suitable exercise environment for adolescents at lower SES. Until the SES achievement gap in female adolescent MP is stable, future work is warranted to discover more practical and meaningful interventions.

Construct validity of the PERF-FIT, a test of motor skill-related fitness for children in low resource areas

BACKGROUND

Given the relationship between physical fitness and motor performance a test battery was developed that measures both components combined.

AIM

Following the development of the Performance and Fitness (PERF-FIT) battery, this study investigated the construct validity with the ultimate aim of identifying attributes that discriminate between different levels of motor abilities and anaerobic or musculoskeletal fitness.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 34 children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and 34 matched typically developing children participated (7-10 years). The PERF-FIT was used to examine known group validity. The PERF-FIT items were also compared to test items of well-known standardized tests to examine concurrent validity.

RESULTS

Concurrent validity was found to be of the expected low to moderate magnitude. Children with DCD were consistently found to have lower levels of motor skill-related fitness compared to typically developing children.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

The PERF-FIT seems to be a valid test to measure movement skills, musculoskeletal fitness and agility in children between the ages of 7 and 10 years in low resourced communities. The test seems to discriminate between gross motor skills, and agility and power in children with and without DCD.

Evaluation of a Web Platform Aiming to Support Parents Having a Child with Developmental Coordination Disorder: Brief Report

Objective: To explore the effects of a web platform, aiming to support parents of children 5-12 years old with suspected or diagnosed developmental coordination disorder (DCD), on parental knowledge and skills.Method: A randomized pilot trial was undertaken (Clinical trial NCT03141333). Parents of the intervention group (n = 15) had access to a web platform (including resources, forum and virtual interactions) for three months. The control group (n = 13) only had access to resources. The primary outcome was measured pre- and post-intervention with the Parent Knowledge and Skills Questionnaire. Pre- post-questionnaires evaluated secondary outcomes (parents' sense of competence, children's strenghts and difficulties, and occupational performance).Results and discussion: All outcome measures improved over time for the intervention group. However, those improvements were not clinically or statistically significant (p 0.08-0.41).Conclusion: Web platforms supporting parents of children with DCD need further evaluation. Especially, usability of web platforms and new outcome measures should be explored.

Subtyping children with developmental coordination disorder based on physical fitness outcomes

PURPOSE

Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are known to have poor physical fitness. However, differentiating homogenous subgroups of DCD using fitness performance has not yet been established. Therefore the purpose of this study was to identify subtypes in children with and without DCD using measures of physical fitness.

METHOD

Children (aged 6-10 years, n = 217) constituted the sample for this study. They were assessed on 1) aerobic fitness (20m Shuttle Run test), 2) anaerobic fitness (Muscle Power Sprint Test), 3) isometric muscle strength (handheld dynamometry) 4) functional upper and lower body strength (Functional Strength Measurement) and 5) motor coordination [Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd edition (MABC-2) test]. The Ward method was used to identify the various clusters.

RESULTS

Five subtypes emerged in the entire sample. In the typically developing (TD) children mainly 2 subtypes (number 5 and 2) were found containing 89% of the TD children (n = 55), with the largest group demonstrating above average performance on all measures (cluster 5). Children in subtype 2 had just above average motor coordination and good aerobic fitness but lower muscle strength. Subtypes 1, 3 and 4 were clearly "DCD" clusters, however they showed difference in fitness performance. Subtype 1 contained children with DCD who showed poor performance on all fitness outcomes (n = 45). Children with DCD in subtype 3 had poor aerobic but average strength and anaerobic fitness (n = 48). Subtype 4 contained children with DCD (n = 45) who had good muscle strength and anaerobic fitness. Of these, 36% were at risk of DCD while 24% had definite motor coordination problems.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that children with and without DCD demonstrate heterogeneous physical fitness profiles. The majority of the children (66%) with DCD belonged to subtypes with lower fitness performance. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings in other samples of DCD children.

"Not just another Wii training": a graded Wii protocol to increase physical fitness in adolescent girls with probable developmental coordination disorder-a pilot study

Background

Adolescents with low motor competence participate less in physical activity and tend to exhibit decreased physical fitness compared to their peers with high motor competence. It is therefore essential to identify new methods of enhancing physical fitness in this population. Active video games (AVG) have been shown to improve motor performance, yet investigations of its impact on physical fitness are limited. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the graded Wii protocol in adolescent girls with probable Developmental Coordination Disorder (p-DCD).

Methods

A single-group pre-post design was conducted to assess the impact of a newly developed Wii protocol in adolescent girls attending school in a low income community of Cape Town, South Africa. Sixteen participants (aged 13-16 years) with p-DCD (≤16th percentile on the MABC-2 test) were recruited. Participants received 45 min Wii training for 14 weeks. Outcome measures included the six-minute walk distance and repeated sprint ability. Information on heart rate, enjoyment and perceived exertion ratings were also collected.

Results

Significant improvements in aerobic and anaerobic fitness were observed. The participants reported high enjoyment scores and low perceived exertion ratings. The graded Wii protocol was easily adaptable and required little resources (space, equipment and expertise) to administer.

Conclusions

The findings provide preliminary evidence to support the use of the graded Wii protocol for promoting physical fitness in adolescent girls with p-DCD. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and to validate the clinical efficacy of the protocol in a larger sample with a more robust design.

Corticospinal excitability during motor imagery is reduced in young adults with developmental coordination disorder

While a compelling body of behavioral research suggests that individuals with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) experience difficulties engaging motor imagery (MI), very little is known about the neural correlates of this deficit. Since corticospinal excitability is a predictor of MI proficiency in healthy adults, we reasoned that decreased MI efficiency in DCD may be paralleled by atypical primary motor cortex (PMC) activity. Participants were 29 young adults aged 18- 36 years: 8 with DCD (DCD) and 21 controls. Six participants with DCD and 15 controls showed behavioral profiles consistent with the use of a MI strategy (MI users) while performing a novel adaptation of the classic hand laterality task (HLT). Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was administered to the hand node of the left PMC (hPMC) at 50ms, 400ms or 650ms post stimulus presentation during the HLT. Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from the right first dorsal interosseous (FDI) via electromyography. As predicted, MI users with DCD were significantly less efficient than MI using controls, shown by poorer performance on the HLT. Importantly, unlike healthy controls, no evidence of enhanced hPMC activity during MI was detected in our DCD group. Our data are consistent with the view that inefficient MI in DCD may be subserved by decreased hPMC activity. These findings are an important step towards clarifying the neuro-cognitive correlates of poor MI ability and motor skill in individuals with DCD.