【論文摘要】Effects of Health-related Fitness and Motor Skill Training Program in School-aged Children with Probable Developmental Coordination Disorder

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is characterized by impaired motor coordination that involves difficulty in fine motor and gross motor control and interferes with academic performance and activities of daily living. Due to poor motor coordination and inferior motor competence, children with DCD spend less time in physical activities and consequently result in underdeveloped health-related physical fitness and motor skills. However, evidence on the effect of intervention program focusing on both physical fitness and motor skill is limited. In addition, follow-up studies were also sparse. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate whether children with probable DCD would improve their motor skills, health-related physical fitness, and physical activity after receiving 8-week health-related physical fitness and motor skill training program, as well as the effects at 8-week follow-up. Methods: Nineteen children with probable DCD (≤ 15 percentile on Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition, MABC-2) aged 6 to 11 years were recruited and received 40-minute physical fitness and motor skill intervention twice a week for 8 week. All subjects were collected for their basic data and were assessed for outcome measurements at pretest, posttest, and 8-week follow-up. Outcome measures included the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOT-2), Weight-Length Index (WLI), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), sit and reach, 1-minute sit-ups, and physical activity assessed using Actigraph® GT3 triaxial accelerometers. Results: Significant improvement in motor skills (manual coordination, body coordination, strength, and agility components in BOT- 2) were found after the training (all p ＜ 0.01) and the effect was maintained at follow-up (all p ＜ 0.007). Body composition was significantly improved after 8-week intervention (p = 0.035) but revealed regression at follow-up (p = 0.013). However, only a positive trend was found for the effect on muscle strength and endurance, proportion of overweight, average physical activity, and percentage of moderate to vigorous physical activities (MVPA%) after intervention (all p ＞ 0.05). Conclusion: Intervention program that consisted of both health-related physical fitness and motor skill training lasting for 8 weeks had significant positive impact on motor skills in children with probable DCD and the effect still could be observed after 8 weeks post intervention. However, the positive impact on body composition could only be seen during intervention period. Clinical Relevance: Our findings support the use of health-related physical fitness and motor skill intervention program for children with probable DCD to improve their motor and physical fitness outcomes.