View clinical trials related to Motor Skills Disorders.
Filter by:This study investigates the effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on postural control of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). All participants will receive four conditions of stimulation, in a crossover protocol: cerebellar anodic, cerebellar cathodic, primary motor cortex anodic (M1) or sham tDCS.
Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of RAS-MPT, RAS alone, MPT alone, and usual care (as a control) for improving the overall gait performance of and reducing falls in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and to explore the relationship between gait performance and falls in this population. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Sample: 76 children with DCD. Interventions: RAS-MPT, RAS alone, MPT alone, or usual care (12 weeks). Major outcomes: Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, post-intervention, and a 6-month follow-up. Comprehensive gait analysis will produce spatiotemporal gait parameters (e.g., velocity and stride length), kinematic gait parameters (e.g., knee joint motions), and leg muscle EMG outcomes; an isokinetic test will quantify leg muscle strength and force production time; and fall histories will be obtained via interviews. Anticipated results and significance: The RAS-MPT group is predicted to display the best gait performance, which is associated with reduced fall incidents. This novel training regime can be readily adopted in school, clinical, or home settings to improve locomotor ability in children with DCD, an outcome with positive socioeconomic implications.
The overall aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility of a study protocol for a future stepped wedge cluster randomized clinical trial (c-RCT) that will investigate the effects of an innovative KT intervention on 1) walking capacity and independence in ADL in patients undergoing rehabilitation after stroke (patient outcomes); and 2) clinicians' practice (i.e. use of 4 evidence-based stroke rehabilitation interventions: motor imagery/mental practice, rhythmic auditory stimulation gait therapy, task oriented training including fitness and mobility exercises and aerobic training) (provider outcome) aimed at improving walking capacity. The specific objectives are: 1) To evaluate the feasibility (effectiveness of clinician recruitment strategies, extent of losses to follow-up across sites, and data analysis plans) of the study protocol in terms of methodology (stepped wedge design is an innovative methodology); 2) To estimate intervention effect sizes on study outcomes (patient and clinician); 3) To evaluate the secondary outcome (clinicians' use of the 4 interventions) with regard to reliability and validity.
The aim of this study is to map the early development of children with DCD and compare it to typically developing (TD) children. At first we will investigate to what extent motor delay, reduced force, higher BMI, behavioral, ADL and participation problems occur in toddlerhood in DCD children and how this relates to TD children. We will also look into the evolution of these parameters in time (stability of development). Secondly we will explore if the diagnosis of DCD can be predicted using a standardized test before the age of five.
Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of Tai Chi-muscle power training (TC-MPT), Tai Chi (TC) alone, muscle power training (MPT) alone, and usual care (as a control) for improving the limits of stability (LOS) of balance control in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and to explore the relationship among LOS, falls, and functional performance in this population. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Sample: 156 children with DCD. Interventions: TC-MPT, TC alone, MPT alone, or usual care for 12 weeks. Major outcomes: Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, post-intervention, and a 3-month follow-up. An LOS test will give a dynamic LOS score, an isokinetic test will quantify leg muscle force production speed, Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 will be used to assess functional motor performance, and fall history will be obtained via interviews. Anticipated results and significance: The TC-MPT group is predicted to display the best LOS balance performance, which is associated with reduced fall incidents and improved functional performance. This novel training regime could be readily adopted into school or clinical settings to improve physical well-being in children with DCD, an outcome with positive socioeconomic implications.
This study aims to establish and present the prevalence figures and demographics of the co-morbidity of ADHD and DCD. It further aims to design an exercise intervention, to be utilised in the management of the symptoms of both conditions. Furthermore, it aims at establishing the efficacy of this exercise intervention, when compared with the current and most commonly used intervention, that is: neurostimulant drugs.
Transcrainial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has become increasingly popular over the past decade. tDCS is a safe and well-studied form of non-invasive brain stimulation. The purpose of the current study is to see if tDCS can improve motor function in children with developmental coordination disorder. Non-invasive brain stimulation is shown to positively affect motor performance in children with neurodevelopmental and/or neurological conditions. For example, tDCS improves hand motor function in children with paediatric stroke and cerebral palsy. The benefits of tDCS in developmental coordination disorder is unknown. The current study will assess children's motor performance before and after tDCS intervention.
Coordination disorders are common among children that arrive to child development services. Children with coordination disorders have impaired proprioceptive sensation and motor planning. It is important to carry out a comprehensive assessment of these children in order to design an appropriate and effective treatment. There is a lack of an objective and standard assessment tools for proprioception and motor planning. Technology based assessment tools might offer a solution, as they enable automated and accurate measurement. The purpose of this study is to examine the validity and reliability of a new diagnostic computerized kit, which was developed for assessment of proprioception and motor planning among children with coordination disorders. The hypothesis includes: 1. Examine the construct validity of the new diagnostic computerized kit (the known group procedure). Whether there is a difference in the outcomes between children with typical development and children with coordination disorders. 2. Examine the construct validity of the new diagnostic computerized kit outcomes - correlation with the following associated variables: (a) motor skills; (b) sensory function; (c) participation in daily activities. 3. Examine of test-retest reliability of the new diagnostic computerized kit. Whether the outcomes are stable in repeated measurements. The participants will include fifty children between the ages of 5 to 7 years: 25 children with coordination disorders (study group), and 25 children with typical development (control group). Each child will arrive for an evaluation meeting that includes: (a) the new diagnostic computerized kit; (b) standard and routine tests for motor skills (Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2-MABC-2, and two sub-test of the Beery-Buktenica developmental test of visual-motor integration- Beery VMI). In addition, the children's parents will complete two questionnaires: (a) Sensory Processing Measurement (SPM) for sensory function assessment; (b) Participation in Childhood Occupations Questionnaire (PICO-Q) for daily participation assessment. After two weeks, ten children from the control group will be evaluated once again by the new diagnostic computerized kit for examine test-retest reliability.
Research question: The primary aim of this study is to compare the prevalence of motor impairment from birth to five years of age between children born <30 weeks and term-born controls, and to determine whether persistent abnormal motor assessments in the newborn period in those born <30 weeks predict abnormal motor functioning at age five years. Secondary aims for both children born<30 weeks and term children are i) to determine whether novel early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - based structural or functional biomarkers are detectable in the neonatal period that can predict motor impairments at five years, ii) to investigate the association between motor impairments and concurrent deficits in body structure and function at five years of age, and iii) to explore how motor impairments at five years, including abnormalities of gait, postural control and strength, are associated with concurrent functional outcomes including physical activity, cognitive and learning ability, behavioural and emotional problems. Design: Prospective longitudinal cohort study. Participants and Setting: 150 preterm children (born <30 weeks) and 151 term-born children (born >36 completed weeks' gestation and weighing>2499 g) admitted to the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, were recruited at birth and will be invited to participate in a five-year follow-up study. Procedure: This study will examine previously collected data (from birth to two years) that comprises the following: detailed motor assessments and structural and functional brain MRI images. At five years, preterm and term children will be examined using comprehensive motor assessments including the Movement Assessment Battery for Children - 2nd edition and measures of gait function through spatiotemporal (assessed with the GAITRite® Walkway), dynamic postural control (assessed with Microsoft Kinect) variables and hand grip strength (assessed with a dynamometer); and measures of physical activity (assessed using accelerometry), cognitive development (assessed with Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence) and emotional and behavioural status (assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Developmental and Wellbeing Assessment). Caregivers will be asked to complete questionnaires on demographics, physical activity, activities of daily living and motor function (assessed with Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, Pediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Little Developmental Co-ordination Questionnaire and an activity diary) at the 5 year assessment. Analysis: For the primary aim the prevalence of motor impairment from birth to 5 years will be compared between children born <30 weeks and term-born peers using the proportion of children classified as abnormal at each of the time points (term age, one, two and five years). Persistent motor impairments during the neonatal period will be assessed as a predictor of severity of motor impairment at 5 years of age in children born <30 weeks using linear regression. Models will be fitted using generalised estimating equations with results reported using robust standard errors, to allow for the clustering of multiple births. Discussion/Significance: Understanding the developmental precursors of motor impairment in children born <30 weeks is essential to limit disruption to skill development, and potential secondary impacts on physical activity, participation, academic achievement, self-esteem and associated outcomes, such as obesity, poor physical fitness and social isolation. Better understanding of motor skill development will enable targeting of intervention and streamlining of services to the individuals who are at highest risk of motor impairments.
The importance of play and physical activity include many benefits on positively improving health and well-being, enhancing children's and young people's thinking and performance in school, improving their sleep and enabling confidence and skill building. However, some children find it hard to learn and perform motor skills, and are at risk of decreased participation in sports and physical activity and subsequently decreased physical fitness and overall health and well-being. Previous studies from the research group have explored the impact and recovery following acute exercise at different intensities in children and adolescents with and without movement difficulties. Following this, a pathway promoting physical activity and engagement has been successfully established within schools for those with and without movement difficulties. Taking the previous studies further, we want to specifically focus on the children's performance and learning of a sporting skill, such as stepping, and the associated brain activity changes, using available high resolution imaging techniques. This will help us understand how these children perform and learn motor and sporting skills. Evidence obtained from imaging alongside measures of movement has helped the development of optimal therapeutic approaches for other conditions such as stroke and Parkinson's and will help us to develop approaches to help children best learn motor skills and hence gain confidence in performing sporting activities.