title: Two-handed catching in children with developmental coordination disorder.
abstract: This study investigated the nature and extent of inter and intralimb coupling of the upper limbs in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and their age-matched controls (AMC) when catching a ball two-handed. Sixteen children (8 DCD, 8 AMC) volunteered for the study; parental consent was gained for each child. Using standard video analysis and 3D kinematic analysis, all children were examined performing 30 two-handed catches. Video analysis showed that the AMC children caught more balls than the DCD children (p< .005). Analyses of the kinematic data showed DCD participants exhibit a greater degree of linkage both between and within limb than the AMC participants (p < .01), but the AMC participants demonstrate more intra individual variability in these linkages (p < .01). The data shows that both DCD and AMC children couple their limbs to exert control over redundant degrees of freedom when catching a ball two-handed. However, DCD children show little capacity to vary their motor behavior exhibiting a less adaptable movement system, which in turn affects their success at the task.
authors.affiliation: Centre for sport and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Systems and Membrane Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Leeds, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Astill
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Utley
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology