Impaired postural control in children with developmental coordination disorder is related to less efficient central as well as peripheral control.
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental impairment that affects approximately 6% of children in primary school age. Children with DCD are characterized by impaired postural control. It has yet to be determined what effect peripheral and central neuromuscular control has on their balance control.



The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms to impaired postural control in children with DCD using the rambling-trembling decomposition of the center of pressure (CoP).



Nine children with DCD (9.0±0.5years, 7 boys, 2 girls) and 10 age- and gender-matched typically developing children (TD) with normal motor proficiency (9.1±0.4years, 7 boys and 3 girls) performed 3×30s bipedal standing on a force plate in six sensory conditions following the sensory organization procedure. Sway length was measured and rambling-trembling decomposition of CoP was calculated in medio-lateral (ML) and anterior-posterior (AP) direction.



Both rambling and trembling were larger for the children with DCD in AP (p=0.031; p=0.050) and ML direction (p=0.025; p=0.007), respectively. ML rambling trajectories did not differ in any conditions with fixed support surface. In ML direction children with DCD had a lower relative contribution of rambling to total sway (p=0.013).



This study showed that impaired postural control in children with DCD is associated with less efficient supraspinal control represented by increased rambling, but also by reduced spinal feedback control or peripheral control manifested as increased trembling.
Laboratory of Human Movement Analysis, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hvidovre University Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Biomechanics and Motor Control Lab., Integrated Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: Merete.brink.speedtsberg@regionh.dk.
Merete B
MB
Speedtsberg
Biomechanics and Motor Control Lab., Integrated Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sofie B
SB
Christensen
Biomechanics and Motor Control Lab., Integrated Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ken Kjøller
KK
Andersen
Laboratory of Human Movement Analysis, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hvidovre University Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jesper
J
Bencke
Biomechanics and Motor Control Lab., Integrated Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
Bente R
BR
Jensen
Laboratory of Human Movement Analysis, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hvidovre University Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Metropolitan University College, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Derek J
DJ
Curtis
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure
Center of pressure; Control mechanisms; Developmental coordination disorder; Postural control; Rambling-Trembling