title: Task-Specific Balance Training Improves the Sensory Organisation of Balance Control in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
abstract: Sensory organisation of balance control is compromised in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). A randomised controlled trial involving 88 children with DCD was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a task-specific balance training (functional-movement training, FMT) programme in improving balance deficits in a DCD population. The DCD participants were randomly assigned to either a FMT group or a control group. The FMT group received two training sessions/ week for 3 months. Measurements of the participants' sensory organisation (somatosensory, vestibular and visual ratios), balance and motor proficiency (Movement Assessment Battery for Children, MABC scores) and center of pressure sway velocity (Unilateral Stance Test, UST scores) were taken at baseline, immediately after FMT and 3 months after FMT. The FMT group showed greater improvements than the controls in somatosensory ratio at 3 and 6 months (all P < 0.001), but the within-group changes were not significant (P > 0.05). The results of both the MABC and the UST also indicated that the balance performance of the FMT group was significantly better than that of the control group at 3 and 6 months (all P < 0.05). Task-specific balance training was found to marginally improve the somatosensory function and somewhat improve the balance performance of children with DCD.
authors: Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors: Shirley S M
authors: SS
authors: Fong
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Guo
authors: School of Science and Health (Occupational Therapy), University of Western Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Karen P Y
authors: KP
authors: Liu
authors: Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.|Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department, Emporia State University, USA.
authors: W Y
authors: WY
authors: Ki
authors: Department of Physical Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
authors: Lobo H T
authors: LH
authors: Louie
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
authors: Raymond C K
authors: RC
authors: Chung
authors: Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors: Duncan J
authors: DJ
authors: Macfarlane
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009048:Motor Skills; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004856:Postural Balance; D016896:Treatment Outcome