title: Health Promotion in a Low-income Primary School: Children with and Without DCD Benefit, but Differently.
abstract: Poor motor performance and reduced physical fitness are characteristic of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). These features have also been identified more frequently among children living in low socio-economic circumstances.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcomes of a nine-week health promotion program (HPP) on the motor performance and fitness levels of children (6-10 years) with and without DCD attending a low-income primary school.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HPP was designed and implemented by undergraduate physiotherapy students using guidelines from the World Health Organization School Health Initiative and their physiotherapy curriculum. Children with DCD (n = 22) and a control group without DCD (n = 19) participated in the evaluation. Motor skill, functional strength, aerobic capacity, and anaerobic power were measured at baseline and after nine weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups of children improved on all measures at the conclusion of the HPP. Children with DCD showed greater improvement than the control group in motor performance and the control group showed greater improvement on one of the anaerobic fitness outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A school-based HPP that focuses on increasing opportunities for physical activity may be effective in improving motor performance in children with DCD and can increase fitness levels in general.
authors.affiliation: 1University of Cape Town, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gillian D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Niri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naidoo
authors.forename: Bouwien C M
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Smits-Engelsman
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012420:Running; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D013019:South Africa; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: DCD; Developmental coordination disorder; Intervention; fitness; health promotion; motor skill; physiotherapy; school-based