Efficacy of interventions to improve motor development in young children: A systematic review of controlled trials

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Introduction: A systematic review of evidence from controlled trials on the efficacy of motor development interventions in young children was conducted.Methodology: A literature search of interventions was conducted in 14 electronic databases. Three reviewers independently evaluated studies to determine whether they met the inclusion criteria. Studies were compared on five components: design, methodological quality, intervention components, efficacy and alignment with the CONSORT and TREND Statements.Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. More than half were controlled trials (65%) and delivered at childcare settings or schools (65%). Three studies had high methodological quality. Studies were approximately 12 weeks in duration and delivered by teachers, researchers and students. Parents were only involved in three studies. Nearly 60% of studies reported statistically significant improvements at follow-up. Three studies aligned with CONSORT and TREND Statements.Conclusions: This review highlighted the limited quantity and quality of interventions to improve motor development in young children. The following recommendations are made: (1) both teachers and researchers should be involved in the implementation of an intervention; (2) parental involvement is critical to ensure transfer of knowledge from the intervention setting to the home environment and (3) interventions should be methodologically sound and follow guidelines detailed in the CONSORT or TREND Statements. Introduction: A systematic review of evidence from controlled trials on the efficacy of motor development interventions in young children was conducted. Methodology: A literature search of interventions was conducted in 14 electronic databases. Three reviewers independently evaluated studies to determine whether they met the inclusion criteria. Studies were compared on five components: design, methodological quality, intervention components, efficacy and alignment with the CONSORT and TREND Statements. Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. More than half were controlled trials (65%) and delivered at childcare settings or schools (65%). Three studies had high methodological quality. Studies were approximately 12 weeks in duration and delivered by teachers, researchers and students. Parents were only involved in three studies. Nearly 60% of studies reported statistically significant improvements at follow-up. Three studies aligned with CONSORT and TREND Statements. Conclusions: This review highlighted the limited quantity and quality of interventions to improve motor development in young children. The following recommendations are made: (1) both teachers and researchers should be involved in the implementation of an intervention; (2) parental involvement is critical to ensure transfer of knowledge from the intervention setting to the home environment and (3) interventions should be methodologically sound and follow guidelines detailed in the CONSORT or TREND Statements.