Motor Intervention for Preschooler With Motor Coordination Deficits

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This research project aims to examine the impact of motor coordination deficits and the effects of motor intervention on preschool-aged children's perceived competence, health-related physical fitness, activity participation and physical activity. Eighty children, aged 4-6 years,with or without motor coordination deficits will be recruited and assigned to to motor intervention (DCD-t), control 1 (DCD-c) or control 2 (TD) group. Children in the intervention group will receive motor intervention for 12 weeks. All children will be assessed at baseline, 0-, 3- and 6-month post-intervention.

Detailed Description
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This research project aims to examine the impact of motor coordination deficits on preschool-aged children's perceived competence, health-related physical fitness, activity participation and physical activity. Furthermore, the investigators are to investigate the effects of motor intervention on children's competence and participation during preschool age. This study plans to recruit 40 children with motor coordination deficits, aged 4-6 years, and 40 age- and gender-matched typically developing children. Children with motor coordination deficits will further be randomly assigned to motor intervention (DCD-t) or control (DCD-c) group. At baseline assessment, all children will be assessed for motor coordination competence, self-perception of competence, health-related physical fitness and daily activity participation. Physical activity will also be quantitatively measured using accelerometry. During the intervention phase, children in the DCD-t group will receive task-oriented motor intervention combined with fitness training three times per week while children in the DCD-c group remain usual activities. All children will be re-assessed at 0-, 3- and 6-month post-intervention. Repeated Measures ANOVA will be applied to examine the differences of motor competence, self-perception, fitness and activity participation among the 3 groups of children and over the 9-month period. The effects of motor intervention on DCD children's competence and participation will also be examined.

Official Title
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Impact of Motor Coordination Deficits in Preschool Children: Effects of Motor Intervention

Conditions
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Developmental Coordination Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: motor intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: aged 4 to 6 years motor coordination competence < 15%ile comparing to norms for motor-deficit group or > 30%ile for healthy group Exclusion Criteria: genetic and chromosome deficits neurological or neuromuscular disorders congenital musculoskeletal disorders fracture in the past 6 months other conditions that affect the child's participation in physical activities

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 4 Years
Maximum Age: 6 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Baseline<br>All children will receive outcome measures. | |
| Experimental: Intervention phase<br>Children in the experimental group will receive intervention for 12 weeks while children in the control group remain their regular activities. | Behavioral: motor intervention<br>* gross motor skill intervention combined with fitness training<br>|
| No Intervention: Follow up phase<br>All children will be followed after the end of intervention phase and receive outcome measures at 3- and 6-month after the completion of intervention. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| motor coordination competence- post | percentile scores of Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition; score range 1 99, a higher score indicates a better outcome | 3 months | 
| motor coordination competence- follow1 | percentile scores of Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition; score range 1 99, a higher score indicates a better outcome | 6 months | 
| motor coordination competence- follow2 | percentile scores of Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition; score range 1 99, a higher score indicates a better outcome | 9 months | 
| weight- post | body weight (kg) | 3 months | 
| weight- follow1 | body weight (kg) | 6 months | 
| weight- follow2 | body weight (kg) | 9 months | 
| height- post | body height (m) | 3 months | 
| height- follow1 | body height (m) | 6 months | 
| height- follow2 | body height (m) | 9 months | 
| flexibility- post | sit-and-reach (cm) | 3 months | 
| flexibility- follow1 | sit-and-reach (cm) | 6 months | 
| flexibility- follow2 | sit-and-reach (cm) | 9 months | 
| strength- post | long jump (cm) | 3 months | 
| strength- follow1 | long jump (cm) | 6 months | 
| strength- follow2 | long jump (cm) | 9 months | 
| aerobic fitness- post | 10 meter shuttle walk test (lap) | 3 months | 
| aerobic fitness- follow1 | 10 meter shuttle walk test (lap) | 6 months | 
| aerobic fitness- follow2 | 10 meter shuttle walk test (lap) | 9 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| self-perceived motor competence- post | scores of Physical Competence Subscale of the The Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children; score range 6 24, a higher score indicates a better outcome | 3 months | 
| self-perceived motor competence- follow1 | scores of Physical Competence Subscale of the The Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children; score range 6 24, a higher score indicates a better outcome | 6 months | 
| self-perceived motor competence- follow2 | scores of Physical Competence Subscale of the The Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children; score range 6 24, a higher score indicates a better outcome | 9 months | 
| daily time spent in physical activities- post | 7-day averaged time spent in physical activities, recorded by activity monitor (minutes per day) | 3 months | 
| daily time spent in physical activities- follow1 | 7-day averaged time spent in physical activities, recorded by activity monitor (minutes per day) | 6 months | 
| daily time spent in physical activities- follow2 | 7-day averaged time spent in physical activities, recorded by activity monitor (minutes per day) | 9 months |