Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of a motor skills training program in children with DCD considering their gender. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2) classified the children and assessed their skill changes over time. The study was implemented at four kindergartens in the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan. In the study, all the children suffered from DCD (5.17 ± 0.70 years; 10 girls), and all the indicators of MABC-2 were less than 16%. The participants were divided into an experimental group (n = 17), receiving ten weeks of motor skills training program for 45 min twice per week; and a control group (n = 7), which proceeded with exercises of everyday living. The ANCOVA showed differences between the groups in the post-test concerning each domain: manual dexterity (F (1, 20) = 18.703, p < 0.001; η2 = 0.471); aiming and catching (F (1, 20) = 9.734, p = 0.005; η2 = 0.317); balance (F (1, 20) = 35.140, p = 0.000; η2 = 0.626); and total MABC-2 test score (F (1, 20) = 66.093, p < 0.001; η2 = 0.759), with all the children in the EG exhibiting better results. The Wilcoxon test revealed statistically significant differences for the EG between moments for all the variables (p < 0.001) but not for the CG (p > 0.050). The effectiveness of the intervention program was similar across both genders. The study suggests that a 10 week motor skills training program can increase the quality of children’s motor competence and represent a valuable procedure for physical education specialists to enhance motor competence for children with DCD.
Highlights
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is characterized by a delay in the development of motor competence, especially the coordination of movements, which visibly impairs the child’s movements and accomplishment of daily tasks [1]
Taking into consideration that there are gender differences in motor competence and task-oriented approaches are more effective, the main goal of the current study is to study the effectiveness of a motor skills training program in children with DCD and analyze possible gender differences
These findings suggest that a structured program of activities with an emphasis on the motor skills of manual dexterity, aiming and catching, and balance can benefit the motor competence of children with DCD, as has already been demonstrated in previous studies [32,35]
Summary
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is characterized by a delay in the development of motor competence, especially the coordination of movements, which visibly impairs the child’s movements and accomplishment of daily tasks [1]. The feelings of inadequacy accompanying poor motor coordination are invariably reinforced through relationships with peers [2]. DCD may decrease motivation to perform physical activities and decrease opportunities to develop motor competence and fitness [3]. Rivilis et al [3] previously observed that children with DCD, in addition to their motor problems, present lower levels of health-related physical activity. If not treated in time, the symptoms of movement problems persist in a large percentage of individuals into adulthood. Children with movement difficulties tend to be less physically active and engage in less physical activity [4]
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