Perceptual-motor intervention for developmental coordination disorder in Grade 1 children

Abstract

Although different approaches, such as the bottom-up and the top-down approach, have been used as interventions to treat Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), there is controversy about the effectiveness of these approaches as interventions. The purpose of this study was to determine if a perceptual-motor intervention would improve the symptoms associated with DCD. Children (N=76) with DCD between the ages of five and eight years, participated in this study. The study had a pre-/post-test experimental design (n=36) with a control group (n=40).The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 was used to assess the motor proficiency levels of the children. The intervention comprised a 10-week programme of two 30-minute sessions per week. The dependent variables were all measurable on an interval scale. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used. After the intervention, one subtest, balance, showed a significant change (p=0.050), while manual dexterity (p=0.797) and aiming and catching (p=0.252), showed no significant changes.These three components contributed to the total test score, which revealed no significant difference (p=0.068) in the overall motor proficiency levels of the experimental group and the control group.