Can children with developmental coordination disorder adapt to task constraints when catching two-handed?

PURPOSE

To compare the nature and extent of inter and intralimb coupling during two-handed catching and the effect of manipulating task constraints in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and their typically developing peers (AMC).

METHOD

Twenty children aged 7 - 10 years, ten with DCD and 10 AMC attempted to catch a ball ten times in condition 1 (C1), ball to the midline; condition 2 (C2), ball to the left shoulder and condition 3 (C3), ball to the right shoulder. Both 3D kinematic data and video data were collected.

RESULTS

Children with DCD caught fewer balls than the AMC children, regardless of age or condition (p <or= 0.001). Children with DCD demonstrated a higher degree of linkage between limbs in C1 and a lower degree of between limb coupling in C2 and C3 when compared to the AMC (p <or= 0.05). Differences between the AMC7 - 8 and AMC9 - 10 group were found with respect to interlimb coupling.

CONCLUSIONS

The influence of manipulating task constraints and the individual nature of children with DCD must be considered by those involved in rehabilitation. By doing so, children with DCD may search for appropriate motor solutions to many functional movement tasks required for everyday life.