OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of a core stability program with a task-oriented motor training program in improving motor proficiency in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). DESIGN: Randomized controlled pilot trial. SETTING: Outpatient unit in a hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two children diagnosed with DCD aged 6 to 9 years were randomly allocated to the core stability program or the task-oriented motor program. INTERVENTION: Both groups underwent their respective face-to-face training session once per week for eight consecutive weeks. They were also instructed to carry out home exercises on a daily basis during the intervention period. MAIN MEASURES: Short Form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (Second Edition) and Sensory Organization Test at pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analysis revealed no significant between-group difference in the change of motor proficiency standard score (p = 0.717), and composite equilibrium score derived from the Sensory Organization Test (p = 0.100). Further analysis showed significant improvement in motor proficiency in both the core stability (mean change (SD) 6.3 (5.4); p = 0.008) and task-oriented training groups (mean change (SD) 5.1 (4.0); p = 0.007). The composite equilibrium score was significantly increased in the task-oriented training group (mean change (SD) 6.0 (5.5); p = 0.009), but not in the core stability group (mean change (SD) 0.0 (9.6); p = 0.812). In the task-oriented training group, compliance with the home program was positively correlated with change in motor proficiency (rho = 0.680, p = 0.030) and composite equilibrium score (rho = 0.638, p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: The core stability exercise program is as effective as task-oriented training in improving motor proficiency among children with DCD.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher