title: Strength training for a child with suspected developmental coordination disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) demonstrate difficulty with feedforward motor control and use varied compensatory strategies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine gross motor function changes following strength training in a child with motor control difficulties.
  
  
  METHODS
  A girl aged 6 years 11 months, with apraxia and hypotonia, and demonstrating motor delays consistent with DCD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four strength training sessions were completed using a universal exercise unit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postintervention scores significantly improved on the Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency, second edition, and the Canadian occupational performance measure scores and raised the developmental coordination disorder questionnaire, revised 2007, scores above the range where DCD is suspected. Nonsignificant changes in strength were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved function and significant gains in manual coordination were observed following blocked practice of isolated, simple joint movements during strength training. Improved motor skills may be because of effective use of feedforward control and improved stabilization. Strength training does not rehearse skills using momentum, explaining nonsignificant changes in locomotor or locomotion areas.
authors.affiliation: Starfish Therapies, San Mateo, California 94402, USA. stacy@starfishtherapies.com
authors.forename: Stacy M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Menz
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatten
authors.forename: Marybeth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grant-Beuttler
mesh_terms: D001072:Apraxias / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*