A sensorimotor approach to the training of manual actions in children with developmental coordination disorder

J Child Neurol. 2013 Feb;28(2):204-12. doi: 10.1177/0883073812461945. Epub 2012 Oct 17.

Abstract

Developmental coordination disorder affects a relatively large proportion (5%-6%) of the childhood population. Severity of the disorder varies but there is a great need for therapeutic intervention. We propose a method for the training of manual actions in children with developmental coordination disorder. Our solution is achieved by applying haptic virtual reality technology to attack the difficulties that children with developmental coordination disorder evidence. Our results show that children with developmental coordination disorder are able to learn complex motor skills if proper training methods are employed. These findings conflict with reports of impaired motor learning in developmental coordination disorder because of underactivation of cerebellar and parietal networks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Hand / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Skills / physiology*
  • Motor Skills Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Occupational Therapy / methods*
  • Physical Therapy Modalities*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome
  • User-Computer Interface