Abstract
Background: Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are less physically fit than their typically developing peers. No substantiated treatments are available for children with DCD to address this issue.Aims: This study aims to describe 1. the design and rationale of We12BFit!-PF, a training to increase cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and anaerobic power in 7-12-year-old children with DCD and 2. the methods to examine its preliminary effectiveness and feasibility.Methods: We12BFit!-PF was developed using the steps of defining a treatment theory as proposed by Whyte et al. This includes the definition of targets, mechanisms of action, and essential ingredients. We12BFit!-PF will be evaluated in children diagnosed with DCD according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (DSM-V) aged 7–12, recruited from rehabilitation centers and physical therapy clinics. Indication for participation will be a need related to enhancing PF, for example tiring quickly, being quickly out of breath or being unable to keep up with peers during PA. During the treatment the participants will be engaged in a group training (2 × 60 min/week, 10 weeks) targeting cardiorespiratory fitness using high intensity interval training, muscle strength using exercises without weights and anaerobic power using plyometrics. Training intensity during high intensity interval training will be monitored with heart rate monitors, if necessary the intensity will be adjusted. Using a single-arm mixed-method design, the preliminary effectiveness will be determined using the 20 meter Shuttle Run Test, hand held dynamometry (JAMAR and MicroFET) and the Muscle Power Sprint Test, which will be assessed in week 0, 11, and 23. Feasibility will be assessed by interviewing parents and children and by organizing a focus group session with the trainers at the end of We12BFit!-PF. Based on a 5% improvement in VO2peak the minimum sample size is 19 children.Ethics and dissemination: The University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen medical ethics committee approved the study (METC 2015.216). Final results will be disseminated via scientific publications, presentations and congress proceedings. Funding organizations will receive a final study report.Trial Registration: This study was registered with Netherlands Trial Registry (NTR6334, www.trialregister.nl).
Highlights
Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have difficulties with coordinated motor skills, “manifested as clumsiness as well as slowness and inaccuracy of performance of motor skills” [1]
Anticipated Results and Materials Outcome measures The intensity of high intensity interval training (HIIT) will be monitored with heart rate monitors (Polar RS300X) every training session
VO2peak obtained from the 20 meter Shuttle Run Test (20 mSRT) shows moderate to good correlation with the cycle ergometer test in children scoring at the 15th percentile of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children [29]
Summary
Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have difficulties with coordinated motor skills, “manifested as clumsiness (e.g., dropping or bumping into objects) as well as slowness and inaccuracy of performance of motor skills (e.g., catching an object, using scissors or cutlery, handwriting, riding a bike, or participating in sports)” [1]. Children with DCD have problems with all five healthrelated PF components: cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) [3,4,5,6], muscle strength [3,4,5,6], muscle endurance [3], flexibility [7,8,9], and body composition [3,4,5] This deprived PF can have serious consequences on short and long term aspects of functioning and health. In the short-term, psychological and cognitive functioning may be negatively affected, whereas long-term effects may include cardiovascular disease [10] The seriousness of these consequences stresses the need for treatment of impaired PF next to treating the problems in motor coordination of children with DCD.
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