title: Motor skill interventions to improve fundamental movement skills of preschoolers with developmental delay.
abstract: Preschoolers with developmental delay (DD) are at risk for poor fundamental movement skills (FMS), but a paucity of early FMS interventions exist. The purpose of this review was to critically appraise the existing interventions to establish direction for future trials targeting preschoolers with DD. A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Major findings were summarized based on common subtopics of overall intervention effect, locomotor skill outcomes, object-control outcomes, and gender differences. Trials ranged from 8 to 24 weeks and offered 540-1700 min of instruction. The majority of trials (n = 9) significantly improved FMS of preschoolers with DD, with a large intervention effect (η(2) = 0.57-0.85). This review supports the utility of interventions to improve FMS of preschoolers with DD. Future researchers are encouraged to include more robust designs, a theoretical framework, and involvement of parents and teachers in the delivery of the intervention.
authors: University of Victoria, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Megan A
authors: MA
authors: Kirk
authors: Ryan E
authors: RE
authors: Rhodes
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015982:Bias; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors