Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to determine whether joint mobility is associated with motor performance in children referred for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD-group) in contrast to a randomly selected group of children between 3–16 years of age (Random-Group).Methods36 children with DCD and 352 typically developing children (Random-Group) participated. Hypermobility was classified based on the Beighton score (cut-off ≥5 for 3–9 years and ≥4 for 10–16 years) using goniometry. Motor performance was assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC).ResultsThe mean Beighton score in the DCD-group was 5.0 versus 2.6 in the Random group. Prevalence of hypermobility was higher in the DCD-group than in the Random Group (64% and 33% respectively; χ 2 = 16.09, p < .001). There was a significant [negative] correlation (rp = −.38, p = .02) between Beighton score and total MABC scores within the DCD group, but not in the Random Group (rp = −0.07, p = .20). More specifically, in the DCD group we found a significant negative correlation between the MABC total score and the degree of hyperextension of the knees.ConclusionThe extremely high prevalence of hypermobility when applying the recommended cut-off scores stresses the need for an international agreement on firm cut-off points and the use of standardized measurement of Beighton mobility manoeuvres. The results of this study show that a cut-off of 7 is more appropriate, resulting in a prevalence of 6% in children aged 3–16 years. Although in the general population motor performance and joint mobility are not related, this is the case in children referred for DCD. We argue that more mobility of the joints may be a disadvantage when motor coordination is poorly developed.
Highlights
The purpose of this study was to determine whether joint mobility is associated with motor performance in children referred for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD-group) in contrast to a randomly selected group of children between 3–16 years of age (Random-Group)
For the DCD group a total of 64 children were invited through PT practices to participate in the study and 36 agreed (56% response)
One child scored at the 25th percentile of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC), but was included because DCD had been diagnosed at the Rehabilitation Centre
Summary
The purpose of this study was to determine whether joint mobility is associated with motor performance in children referred for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD-group) in contrast to a randomly selected group of children between 3–16 years of age (Random-Group). Children diagnosed with DCD show levels of motor coordination below that expected for their chronological age and intelligence. Maillard and Murray hypothesized that clumsiness, reported by parents of children with hypermobility, might be due to reduced proprioception from the joints [11]. This in combination with suboptimal strength of the muscles will lead to poor control of joint movement and instability. In a combined retrospective and prospective study of children with hypermobility referred to a rheumatology clinic, Adib et al [7] used a questionnaire and found that 48% of hypermobile children were considered clumsy, 36% had poor coordination and 7% was diagnosed as having dyspraxia
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