To investigate the differences in motor competence and physical activity between children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) aged 3-6 years and typically developing (TD) children, and to explore the relationship between motor competence and physical activity in children with DCD
A total of 90 children with DCD aged 3-6 years (65 boys and 25 girls) in a children's hospital were selected. With gender and age as matching factors, 90 TD children who underwent routine physical examination in the same period in the hospital were selected 1:1 as the control group. Motor competence of children were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children and the Test of Gross Motor Development; physical activity of children outside school was investigated using the Questionnaire of Parents of Physical Activities of Young Children; Independent samples t-tests were used to compare the motor competence and physical activity of children with DCD and TD; partial correlation and linear regression were used to explore the relationship between motor competence and physical activity in children with DCD.
The scores of manual dexterity, aiming and catching ball, balance ability and motor skills in DCD group were lower than those in TD Group (P & LT; 0.05) , there was no significant difference in TPA and MVPA between DCD Group and TD Group (P > 0.05) Manual dexterity and motor skills of DCD children were positively correlated with MVPA at weekends (R = 0.237,0.260, P & Lt; 0.05) , aiming and catching were positively correlated with out-of-school MVPA during weekdays (r = 0.274, P = 0.010) , motor skills (β = 0.264, p = 0.038) , targeting and capture were positively correlated with MVPA at weekends in children with DCD (R = 0.237,0.260, P & LT; 0.05)(β = 0.287, p = 0.010) and were predictive of MVPA at weekends and off-campus MVPA on weekdays, respectively.
The scores of manual dexterity, aiming and catching ball, balance ability and motor skills in DCD group were lower than those in TD Group (P & LT; 0.05) , there was no significant difference in TPA and MVPA between DCD Group and TD Group (P > 0.05) Manual dexterity and motor skills of DCD children were positively correlated with MVPA at weekends (R = 0.237,0.260, P & Lt; 0.05) , aiming and catching were positively correlated with out-of-school MVPA during weekdays (r = 0.274, P = 0.010) , motor skills (β = 0.264, p = 0.038) , targeting and capture were positively correlated with MVPA at weekends in children with DCD (R = 0.237,0.260, P & LT; 0.05)(β = 0.287, p = 0.010) and were predictive of MVPA at weekends and off-campus MVPA on weekdays, respectively.
Physical activity is not a characteristic indicator of DCD children and TD
developmental coordination disorder
motor competence