Are Movement Behaviors and Fundamental Motor Skills Associated With Fitness and Fatness in Early Childhood? Findings From the 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey.

PURPOSE: Using 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) National Youth Fitness Survey data, the authors conducted a cross-sectional secondary analysis to examine the associations of movement behaviors (ie, physical activity [PA] and screen-based sedentary behaviors) and fundamental motor skills (FMS) with fitness (ie, muscular fitness) and fatness (ie, body mass index and waist circumference) in 3- to 5-year-old children. The effect of ethnicity (Hispanic vs non-Hispanic) on these associations was also examined. METHODS: A total of 352 children (173 girls; mean age = 4.02 y) from the 2012 NHANES data set were included. Parents reported their child's PA and screen-based sedentary behaviors. FMS (ie, locomotor and object control) were assessed with the Test of Gross Motor Development, 2nd edition. Other variables used were body mass index, waist circumference, and plank. RESULTS: Hispanic children demonstrated lower levels of PA than non-Hispanic children (P < .05). Children's FMS emerged as significant predictors of muscular fitness and waist circumference, but not for body mass index in the Hispanic group. In the non-Hispanic group, FMS (ie, object control skills) and PA accounted for significant variances of muscular fitness and waist circumference, respectively. CONCLUSION: The associations of movement behaviors and FMS with fitness and fatness are different between Hispanic and non-Hispanic young children. Changes in policy or early childhood curriculum may be tailed to promote FMS for an impact on fitness and fatness in both Hispanic and non-Hispanic children.

Percentile curves for Brazilian children evaluated with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd edition / Curvas percentílicas para crianças brasileiras avaliadas pelo Teste de Proficiência Motora Bruininks-Oseretsky, 2ª edição

Abstract This study aimed to (1) create percentile curves and norms for the eight subtests of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd edition (BOT-2) for 6- to 10-year-old Brazilian children and to (2) compare them to the values of the original test manual. To that, we tested a sample of 931 Brazilian children (477 girls, 454 boys) with ages between 6 to 10 with the BOT-2 assessment. The LMS method was used to generate the percentile curves and normative values, with the LMSchartmaker Pro software version 2.54. Results demonstrate that girls had significantly higher scores for the fine motor precision, fine motor integration, manual dexterity and balance subtests, while boys had significantly higher scores on upper-limb coordination, running speed and agility, and the strength subtests. The findings also indicated higher values for the Brazilian group in the subtests of bilateral coordination, running speed and agility, balance, and upper-limb coordination when compared to the North American normative sample. The percentile curves illustrate the increase in motor proficiency levels as age increases, with different trajectories for each subtest. Future studies should continue the investigation of cultural norms and appropriate assessments for the Brazilian population. Here, the creation of percentile curves and norms that are better suited for the Brazilian population can significantly help with assessment and intervention for motor development in distinct settings and with typical and atypical school-age children.

Resumo Este estudo objetivou (1) criar curvas e normas percentílicas para os oito subtestes do Teste de Proficiência Motora Bruininks-Oseretsky, 2ª edição (BOT-2) para crianças brasileiras de 6 a 10 anos e compará-las com os valores do manual de teste original. Para tanto, testamos uma amostra de 931 crianças brasileiras (477 meninas, 454 meninos) com idades entre 6 a 10 anos com a avaliação do BOT-2. O método LMS foi usado para gerar as curvas de percentil e valores normativos, utilizando o software LMSchartmaker Pro versão 2.54. Os resultados demonstram que as meninas tiveram escores significativamente mais altos nos subtestes de precisão motora fina, integração motora fina, destreza manual e equilíbrio, enquanto os meninos tiveram escores significativamente mais altos nos subtestes de coordenação de membros superiores, velocidade de corrida e agilidade e força. Os resultados também indicaram valores mais elevados para o grupo brasileiro nos subtestes de coordenação bilateral, corrida de velocidade e agilidade, equilíbrio e coordenação dos membros superiores quando comparados com a amostra normativa norte-americana. As curvas percentílicas ilustram o aumento nos níveis de proficiência motora à medida que a idade aumenta, com diferentes trajetórias para cada subteste. Estudos futuros devem continuar a investigação de normas culturais e avaliações apropriadas para a população brasileira. Neste estudo, a criação de curvas e normas percentílicas mais adequadas para a população brasileira pode ajudar significativamente na avaliação e intervenção para o desenvolvimento motor em diferentes contextos e com crianças em idade escolar típicas e atípicas.

Reconsidering the use of cut-off scores: dcdq - brazil / Reconsiderando o uso dos pontos de corte: dcdq - brasil / Reconsiderando el uso de los puntos de corte: dcdq - brasil

ABSTRACT Introduction: The DCDQ is a parental report designed to assess daily living activities of children, and serves as a useful questionnaire to aid in the diagnostic criteria of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). It is divided into three components: control during movement, fine motor/handwriting, and general coordination. The results categorize children in two groups: "Indication of DCD/suspect DCD", and "probably not DCD". Objective: The objective of this study was to determine appropriate cut-off scores for the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire - Brazil (DCDQ-BR) for use with Brazilian children employing a large sample. Methods: Seven hundred and seven children ages 6-10 were assessed with the DCDQ-BR and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2). Descriptive statistics was used to characterize the sample, and concurrent validity was assessed using Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. Predictive validity was determined through values of sensitivity (S) and specificity (E), while ROC curves were used to determine the optimal cut-off score for the DCDQ-BR. Results: Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis revealed a significant correlation between total scores of the DCDQ-BR and BOT-2 (r= 0.55 (p=0.00). Cut-off scores for the DCDQ-BR based on the BOT-2 17th percentile (relating to below average descriptive category) were established as ≤40, ≤46 and ≤51 for ages 6-7 years and 11 months; 8-9 years and 11 months; and 10-10 years and 11 months, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study and previous literature suggesting the need for a reevaluation of cut-off scores for the Brazilian population with a larger sample, we recommend that the cut-off scores of the DCDQ-BR are adjusted to the values found with our sample. Level of evidence II; Diagnostic studies - Investigating a diagnostic test.

RESUMO Introdução: O DCDQ é um relatório para pais elaborado para avaliar as atividades diárias das crianças, além de servir como um questionário útil para auxiliar nos critérios diagnósticos de Transtorno do Desenvolvimento da Coordenação (TDC). O questionário é dividido em três componentes: controle durante o movimento, motricidade fina/escrita e coordenação geral. Os resultados classificam as crianças em dois grupos: "Indicação ou suspeita de TDC" e "provável não TDC". Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo consistia em determinar as pontuações de corte adequadas para o Questionário de Transtorno do Desenvolvimento da Coordenação - Brasil (DCDQ-BR) para uso com crianças brasileiras utilizando uma grande amostra. Métodos: Setecentas e sete crianças de seis a 10 anos foram avaliadas com o DCDQ-BR e o Teste de Proficiência Motora Bruininks-Oseretsky (BOT-2). Utilizaram-se estatísticas descritivas para caracterizar a amostra e a validade concorrente foi avaliada através do índice de Correlação de Pearson. A validade preditiva foi determinada através dos valores de sensibilidade (S), especificidade (E) e as curvas ROC foram realizadas para determinar o ponto de corte ótimo do DCDQ-BR. Resultados: A análise de correlação de Pearson revelou uma correlação significativa entre os escores totais do DCDQ-BR e BOT-2 (r = 0,55, p = 0,00). Os pontos de corte para o DCDQ-BR com base no BOT-2 no 17º percentil (referentes a categoria descritiva abaixo da média) foram estabelecidos como ≤40, ≤46 e ≤51 para seis anos a sete anos e 11 meses, oito anos a nove anos e 11 meses, e 10 anos a 10 anos e 11 meses, respectivamente. Conclusão: Com base nos resultados desse estudo e na literatura anterior sugerindo a necessidade de uma reavaliação das pontuações de corte para a população brasileira com uma amostra maior, recomendamos que as pontuações de corte do DCDQ-BR sejam ajustadas aos valores encontrados em nossa amostra. Nível de evidência II; Estudos diagnósticos - Investigação de um exame para diagnóstico.

RESUMEN Introducción: El DCDQ es un informe para padres elaborado para evaluar las actividades diarias de los niños, además de servir como un cuestionario útil para ayudar en los criterios diagnósticos del Trastorno del Desarrollo de la Coordinación (TDC). El cuestionario se divide en tres componentes: control durante el movimiento, motricidad fina/escrita y coordinación general. Los resultados clasifican a los niños en dos grupos: "Indicación o sospecha de TDC" y "probable no TDC". Objetivo: El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar las puntuaciones de corte adecuadas para el Cuestionario de Trastorno del Desarrollo de la Coordinación-Brasil (DCDQ-BR) para el uso con niños brasileños usando una gran muestra. Métodos: Setecientos y siete niños de 6 a 10 años fueron evaluados con el DCDQ-BR y el Test de Destreza Motora Bruininks-Oseretsky (BOT-2). Se utilizaron estadísticas descriptivas para caracterizar la muestra y la validez concurrente fue evaluada a través del índice de Correlación de Pearson. La validez predictiva fue determinada a través de los valores de sensibilidad (S), especificidad (E) y las curvas ROC se realizaron para determinar el punto de corte óptimo del DCDQ-BR. Resultados: El análisis de correlación de Pearson reveló una correlación significativa entre las puntuaciones totales del DCDQ-BR y BOT-2 (r = 0,55, p = 0,00). Los puntos de corte para el DCDQ-BR con base en el BOT-2 en el percentil 17º (referentes a la categoría descriptiva por debajo del promedio) se establecieron como ≤40, ≤46 y ≤51 para seis a siete años y 11 meses, ocho años a nueve años y 11 meses, y 10 años a 10 años y 11 meses, respectivamente. Conclusión: Con base en los resultados de este estudio y en la literatura anterior sugiriendo la necesidad de una reevaluación de las puntuaciones de corte para la población brasileña con una muestra mayor, recomendamos que las puntuaciones de corte del DCDQ-BR sean ajustadas a los valores encontrados con nuestra muestra. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios diagnósticos - Investigación de un examen para diagnóstico.

Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development-Infant Scale, Spanish Translation.

BACKGROUND: The home environment has a critical influence on an infant's development and well-being. The Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development-Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS) is an instrument that has been developed to assess the home environment. This article illustrates the translation, validation and cultural adaptation process of the AHEMD-IS from English to Spanish. METHODS: The AHEMD-IS underwent a comprehensive process involving a four-phase translation process: 1) Forward translation, 2) Semantic equivalence, 3) Content equivalence testing, and 4) Final version development. RESULTS: Steps 1 & 2 resulted in linguistic alterations from the initial translation to enhance clarity for general public understanding. In step 3, mothers reported the instrument was clear and easy to complete. Step 4 involved a final review of the instrument. CONCLUSION: The final outcome is a validated instrument that may prove beneficial when evaluating the home environment with Spanish-speaking populations, particularly those of Mexican descent.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Coordination Disorder, and typical development differ in characteristics of dynamic postural control: A preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are developmental disorders with distinct definitions and symptoms. However, both conditions share difficulties with motor skills, including impairments in postural control. While studies have explored postural sway variables in children with DCD and ASD as compared to typical development (TD), few have used kinematic data to assess the magnitude of differences between these two neurodevelopmental conditions. There are few sensitive and specific measures available to assess balance impairment severity in these populations. RESEARCH QUESTION: Do individuals with ASD, DCD, and TD differ in dynamic postural control? METHODS: We quantified postural control differences between ASD, DCD, and TD during a dynamic balance task. 10 ASD, 10 DCD, and 8 TD agematched children completed a dynamic postural control task in a virtual environment. They leaned to shift their center of pressure (CoP) to match a user-controlled object to an oscillating target (0.1 Hz-0.8 Hz). RESULTS: The DCD group had higher CoP accelerations compared to ASD or TD. While the DCD and TD groups did not differ in their medial-lateral velocity, the ASD group had low medial-lateral velocity and acceleration as compared to DCD and TD. ASD group velocity and acceleration did not differ from that of the TD group in the anterior-posterior direction. Higher accelerations in the DCD group reflected non-fluid movements; by contrast, the ASD group had slower, more fluid movements. Results may reflect differences in how children with ASD and DCD plan, execute, and modify motor actions. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates the potential utility of CoP acceleration and velocity as a sensitive and specific means of differentiating between ASD, DCD, and TD. Results indicating group differences between ASD and DCD in velocity and acceleration profiles represent an important step toward understanding how these populations modify motor plans during dynamic tasks.

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD): An overview of the condition and research evidence

Abstract Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by impairments in the development of motor coordination. The uncoordinated movements of children with DCD lead to performance difficulties in daily life activities and academic settings. Despite the high prevalence of this condition (2-7%) and severe consequences associated with it, DCD is not well recognized in clinical and educational practices, particularly in Brazil. This review provides an overview of DCD and the research evidence - we present definitions and characteristics associated with the condition, the diagnostic criteria, associated difficulties, frequent co-morbidities and a summary of the possible causes. Finally, we review management strategies and intervention approaches for DCD. We also discuss some of the common challenges of the field - while DCD has been largely studied in the last decade, there are still many gaps between research and practice that need to be filled. Awareness and dissemination of relevant, scientific information is necessary. In conclusion, DCD is a significant condition with a clear diagnostic criteria, and requires intervention to improve motor and functional skills, which can improve the associated difficulties as well as the physical and mental health consequences of the condition.

The role of sport participation and body mass index in predicting motor competence of school-age children / O papel da participação esportiva e do índice de massa corporal na predição da competência motora de crianças em idade escolar

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between Sport Participation (SP) and Motor Competence (MC) in school-age children, and to assess the mediation role of Body Mass Index (BMI) on this association. 707 children (332 boys, 375 girls) aged between 6- to 10 years participated in the study. Motor competence was determined using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2). Parents were asked about organized SP, categorized as 1) no participation, 2) partial participation and 3) consistent participation, and BMI was calculated based on the child's height and weight. The results indicated significant differences for all MC components and total score for SP categories, all p < .05, with higher results for consistent participation in sports. For BMI, significant differences occurred in all components, with the exception of fine manual control and manual coordination. Our findings showed that SP was associated with MC, and BMI was not an important factor in these relationships. However, a small mediation of BMI was found, but only for obese children. In summary, we conclude that sport participation plays a relevant role in the development of motor competence in school-age children, and that association is, in general, not mediated by weight status.

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a associação entre Participação Esportiva (PE) e Competência Motora (CM) em crianças em idade escolar e avaliar o papel da mediação do Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) nesta associação. Foram avaliadas 707 crianças (332 meninos, 375 meninas) com idades entre 6 e 10 anos participaram do estudo. A competência motora foi determinada usando o Teste Bruininks-Oseretsky de Proficiência Motora (BOT-2). Os pais foram questionados sobre a SP organizada, categorizada como 1) sem participação, 2) participação parcial e 3) participação consistente, e o IMC foi calculado com base na altura e no peso da criança. Os resultados indicaram diferenças significativas para todos os componentes do CM e escore total para as categorias de PS, todos p <0,05, com resultados mais altos para a participação consistente nos esportes. Para o IMC, ocorreram diferenças significativas em todos os componentes, com exceção do controle manual e da coordenação manual. Nossos achados mostraram que a SP estava associada à CM, e o IMC não foi um fator importante nessas relações. No entanto, uma pequena mediação do IMC foi encontrada, mas apenas para crianças obesas. Concluímos que a participação esportiva desempenha um papel relevante no desenvolvimento da competência motora em crianças em idade escolar, e essa associação, em geral, não é mediada pelo status de peso.

Motor development in school-age children is associated with the home environment including socioeconomic status.

The aim of the present study was to examine how the home environment, including socioeconomic status (SES), affects motor development in school-age children. Seven hundred seven children (332 boys and 375 girls) aged between 6 and 10 years participated in the study. Motor Development was determined using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Second Edition. Parents answered the Middle Childhood Home Observation Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory, and Brazilian Association of Market Research Institutes Questionnaire (for SES). Children from "Adequate" homes (HOME score), compared with "Less Adequate," displayed better motor behavior. Mediation and moderation analysis revealed that motor development increased as SES increased. The proportion of variance in motor development explained by SES increased from 9% to 13% when the home was added as a mediation variable. We also found that the effect of SES on motor development was moderated by age. For older children, the effect was lower than for younger children. The best model used SES as the predictor, HOME as the mediator, and AGE as the moderator variable and explained 17% of the variance in motor development. In summary, these findings suggest that, like previous reports with young children, the HOME environment and SES may play an important role in motor development of school-age children. Our findings encourage the assessment of the home and interventions that take into account the home environment to improve motor development in school-age children.

Differences in accuracy and vividness of motor imagery in children with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder.

Motor imagery (MI) provides a unique window on the integrity of movement representation. Studies have shown that children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) experience problems with tasks thought to rely on an internal model of movements. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare MI accuracy and MI vividness between typically developing (TD) and children with DCD. Ninety-three children with ages between 7 and 12 years (TD: n = 51; DCD: n = 42) were tested with the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-c) to assess MI vividness and the Florida Praxis Imagery Questionnaire (FPIQ) to assess MI accuracy. To compare differences between the groups for each assessment and in the subscales, two separate general linear model analyses were conducted: A 2 × 3 (Group [TD, DCD] × Subscales [internal visual imagery, external visual imagery, kinesthetic imagery]) for MI vividness and a 2 × 4 (Group [TD, DCD] × Subscales [position, object, kinesthetic, action]) for MI accuracy. Results indicated that children with DCD scored significantly lower (p < .05) on MI accuracy than TD children, but there were no significant differences between the groups on MI vividness. Additionally, there were significant differences in the subscales for both measurements of MI. Specifically, results showed lower scores overall for the kinesthetic subscale. These findings indicate that the MI deficit seen in children with DCD is probably associated with MI accuracy, not MI vividness. These results suggest the need of further exploration into specific measurements of MI in children with DCD.

Health-related quality of life in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: Association between the PedsQL and KIDSCREEN instruments and comparison with their normative samples.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: One of the major concerns for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are the mental and physical consequences of the condition, especially as they relate to quality of life factors. Here, we examined health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with DCD, determined the association between two standardized parent reports, and compared HRQOL of our sample with DCD with the normative sample of each assessment for typically developing (TD) children and a sample of children with chronic health conditions. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Parents of children with reported DCD with ages between 6 and 12 completed the PedsQL and KIDSCREEN instruments through an online survey. The PedsQL measures HRQOL in the Physical, Emotional, Social, Academic, and Psychosocial Functioning domains, while the KIDSCREEN assesses HRQOL in Physical and Psychological Well-Being, Autonomy & Parents, Peers & Social Support, and School Environment. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Pearson's correlation analyses showed low to moderate correlations between dimensions of the assessments, with the exception of the KIDSCREEN Autonomy & Parents. T-test analyses showed that the group with DCD showed significantly lower scores than the normative samples on the PedsQL and KIDSCREEN, and the PedsQL scores were significantly lower than those of a sample of children experiencing chronic illness. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Scores on both instruments state that DCD likely represents a serious problem for children, and add to the body of evidence supporting the notion that children with DCD have lower overall HRQOL. We urge professionals to address or refer these children to services that can help improve children's quality of life and prevent future health problems.

Cortical activity in fine-motor tasks in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A preliminary fNIRS study.

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is as a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by poor motor proficiency, which impacts academic performance and activities of daily living. Several studies have determined that children with DCD activate different regions of the brain when performing motor skills in comparison to typically developing (TD) children. However, none have used Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to explore cortical activation in this population. With that, the goal of this preliminary study was to investigate cortical activation using fNIRS in six children with DCD and six TD children between ages of 8 and 12 years. Three fine-motor tasks were performed: Finger Tapping (FT), Curve Tracing (CT), and Paragraph Writing (PW). Tasks were presented in counterbalanced order and had a baseline of 30s. Cortical activity elicited during performance of the FT, CT, and PW tasks was measured by fNIRS, and activation areas within each group were statistically compared. Results indicated that participant groups used different focal activation areas as well as different neural networks to perform the tasks. These distinct patterns were also task-specific, with differences in the right Pre-Motor Cortex (Pre-MC) and Supplementary Motor Area (SMA) for CT, and the right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) and the right Pre-MC for the PW task. These results add to the body of research exploring neurological alterations in children with DCD, and establish the feasibility of using fNIRS technology with this population.

Behavioral comparisons in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Coordination Disorder: A systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are developmental disorders that, since the DSM-5, can be diagnosed as co-occurring conditions. While some recent studies suggest that ASD and DCD have similar traits, others show clear behavioral distinctions between the two conditions. By gathering all studies that included (1) an ASD group and a DCD group, (2) an ASD+DCD group and a DCD group, or (3) ASD, ASD+DCD, and DCD groups, we aimed to identify similarities and differences in behaviors between the two disorders. METHOD: We used a systematic search of PubMed (1946 -), Scopus (1970 -), PsycINFO (via EBSCO, 1600 -), CINAHL (via EBSCO, 1937 -), SportDiscus (via EBSCO, 1985 -), and WorldCat (via FirstSearch) in addition to reference list and author name searching PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, SportDiscus, and WorldCat to identify original studies that met the following criteria: (1) an ASD group and a DCD group, (2) an ASD+DCD group and a DCD group, or (3) ASD, ASD+DCD, and DCD groups. RESULTS: From the 1,598 articles screened, 11 were included in the qualitative analysis. The articles included reported more differences than similarities in individuals with ASD and DCD, with clear distinctions for working memory ability, gestural performance, grip selection, and cortical thickness. Only two studies reported similarities in face processing abilities and perceived competence, and the interventional studies showed group similarities in behavior improvement, such as intelligence and attention. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the articles reviewed, we conclude that while DCD and ASD share some behavioral symptoms, the symptom profiles of each disorder are unique and separable. We recommend that the evaluation of potential DCD in individuals with ASD be performed systematically and thoroughly, so as to distinguish this co-occurring condition from sensorimotor symptoms associated with ASD.

Implications of Preterm Birth for Maternal Mental Health and Infant Development.

Preterm birth remains a major contributor to infant mortality and morbidity including neurodevelopmental delay and childhood disability. Mothers experiencing a preterm birth are at risk for maternal mental health issues, inclusive of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which may affect mother-infant attachment and infant development. Depression and PTSD, frequently comorbid, following preterm birth and relationships between these symptoms, maternal-infant attachment, and infant development are reviewed. Assessments and interventions potentially capable of benefitting mother and infant are noted. The need for healthcare professionals to intervene prenatally and at postpartum is significant as maternal distress remains one of the most consistent factors related to infant development. Although depression has received much attention in the literature as a risk factor for preterm birth, impaired attachment, and delayed infant development, some of the consequences of PTSD have only recently gained research attention. A few studies support the role of PTSD in impaired maternal-infant attachment; yet, it is unclear whether preterm infants of mothers experiencing symptoms of PTSD following birth are at a higher risk for motor development problems. Because early mother-infant interactions are influenced by prematurity as well as maternal mental health, consideration for home interventions that stimulate infant development and encourage mother-infant relationships concurrently are important. Directed interventions may be beneficial for infant development and aid in strengthening the mother-infant relationship, potentially reducing depression and PTSD symptoms in the mother.

Physical and Mental Health of Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder.

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by poor motor proficiency that interferes with an individual's activities of daily living. These problems in motor coordination are prevalent despite children's intelligence levels. Common symptoms include marked delays in achieving motor milestones and clumsiness, typically associated with poor balance, coordination, and especially handwriting skills. Currently, DCD is said to impact about 2-7% of school-age children. More importantly, DCD is considered to be one of the major health problems among school-aged children worldwide, with unique consequences to physical and mental health. Because these children and adolescents often experience difficulties participating in typical childhood activities (e.g., riding a bike), they tend to be more sedentary, more overweight/obese, at a higher risk for coronary vascular disease, and have lower cardiorespiratory and physical fitness than their typically developing peers. From another perspective, the motor difficulties have also been linked to an increased risk for mental health issues, such as higher anxiety and depression. The understanding of the health consequences associated with DCD offers practical applications for the understanding of the mechanisms and intervention protocols that can improve the consequences of this condition. In this review, I will explore such consequences and provide evidence for the implementation of interventions that focus on improving physical and mental health in this population.

Children with developmental coordination disorder demonstrate a spatial mismatch when estimating coincident-timing ability with tools.

Coincident timing or interception ability can be defined as the capacity to precisely time sensory input and motor output. This study compared accuracy of typically developing (TD) children and those with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) on a task involving estimation of coincident timing with their arm and various tool lengths. Forty-eight (48) participants performed two experiments where they imagined intercepting a target moving toward (Experiment 1) and target moving away (Experiment 2) from them in 5 conditions with their arm and tool lengths: arm, 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm. In Experiment 1, the DCD group overestimated interception points approximately twice as much as the TD group, and both groups overestimated consistently regardless of the tool used. Results for Experiment 2 revealed that those with DCD underestimated about three times as much as the TD group, with the exception of when no tool was used. Overall, these results indicate that children with DCD are less accurate with estimation of coincident-timing; which might in part explain their difficulties with common motor activities such as catching a ball or striking a baseball pitch.

Effects of two distinct group motor skill interventions in psychological and motor skills of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have an increased risk for mental health difficulties. OBJECTIVE: The present pilot study aimed to determine whether distinct group intervention programs improved several psychological variables (anxiety; adequacy and predilection for physical activity; participation, preferences, and enjoyment for activities) and motor skills from the perspective of a child with DCD as well as parental perceptions of motor skills, rate of function, and strengths and difficulties. METHODS: Eleven children participated in Program A and thirteen in Program B. Both involved 10 sessions of 1 h each. Program A focused on task-oriented activities in a large group involving motor skill training and collaboration and cooperation among children, while Program B was composed of three groups with a direct goal-oriented approach for training of skills chosen by the children. RESULTS: Results indicated that children improved motor skills after both programs, but showed distinct results in regards to other variables - after Program A, children showed higher anxiety and lower levels of enjoyment, even though parents detected an improvement in rate of function and a decrease in peer problems. With Program B, children decreased anxiety levels, and parents noted a higher control of movement of their children. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the group approach, children were able to improve motor skills. However, it is possible that the differences between groups may have influenced parents' perception of their children's motor and psychological skills, as well as children's perception of anxiety.

The new affordances in the home environment for motor development - infant scale (AHEMD-IS): Versions in English and Portuguese languages.

The home environment has been established as a crucial factor for motor development, especially in infants. Exploring the home environment can have significant implications for intervention, as it is common practice in physical therapy to have professionals advise patients on home activities. Since 2010, our group has been working on the development of the Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development - Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS), a parental self-reporting instrument designed to assess the quality and quantity of factors (affordances) in the home environment. In Brazil, the instrument has been translated as "Affordances no Ambiente Domiciliar para o Desenvolvimento Motor - Escala Bebê", and it has been extensively used in several studies that address infant development. These studies in Brazil and other parts of the world highly recommended the need for a normative sample and standardized scoring system. A description of the study that addressed that need, along with the English version of the questionnaire and score sheets, was recently published in the well-known and respected journal Physical Therapy. Our intent with the present short communication is to notify Brazilian investigators and clinicians of this latest update so they can download the new instrument, as well as present the Brazilian (Portuguese) version of the AHEMD-IS along with its scoring system.

Factors predicting sensory profile of 4 to 18 month old infants / Fatores preditores do perfil sensorial de lactentes dos 4 aos 18 meses de idade

OBJECTIVE: To identify environment factors predicting sensory profile of infants between 4 and 18 months old. METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated 97 infants (40 females e 57 males), with a mean age of 1.05±0.32 years with the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants (TSFI) and also asked 97 parents and 11 kindergarten teachers of seven daycare centers to answer the Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development-Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS). The AHEMD-IS is a questionnaire that characterizes the opportunities in the home environment for infants between 3 and 18 months of age. We tested the association between affordances and the sensory profile of infants. Significant variables were entered into a regression model to determine predictors of sensory profile. RESULTS: The majority of infants (66%) had a normal sensory profile and 34% were at risk or deficit. Affordances in the home were classified as adequate and they were good in the studied daycare centers. The results of the regression revealed that only daily hours in daycare center and daycare outside space influenced the sensory profile of infants, in particular the Ocular-Motor Control component. CONCLUSIONS: The sensory profile of infants was between normal and at risk. While the family home offered adequate affordances for motor development, the daycare centers of the infants involved demonstrated a good quantity and quality of affordances. Overall, we conclude that daily hours in the daycare center and daycare outside space were predictors of the sensory profile, particular on Ocular-Motor Control component.

OBJETIVO: Identificar os fatores ambientais preditores do perfil sensorial de lactentes dos quatro aos 18 meses de idade. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 97 lactentes (40 do sexo feminino e 57 do masculino), com idade média de 1,05±0,32, aos quais foi aplicado o Test of Sensory Functions in Infants. Responderam ao questionário Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development-Infant Scale 97 pais e 11 educadoras de sete creches, de forma a caracterizar o contexto familiar e de creche, e relacionou-se ao perfil sensorial dos bebês. O AHEMD-IS é um questionário que caracteriza as oportunidades no ambiente para crianças entre três e 18 meses de idade. As variáveis que apresentaram uma associação significante foram incluídas no modelo de regressão linear para determinar os fatores preditores do perfil sensorial. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos bebês (66%) apresentou um perfil sensorial normal e 34% deles encontram-se em risco ou em déficit (com problemas sensoriais). As oportunidades de estimulação na habitação foram classificadas como suficientes e nas creches foram avaliadas como boas. Os resultados da regressão revelaram que apenas os fatores "horas diárias na creche" e "espaço exterior de creche" influenciaram o perfil sensorial dos bebês, notadamente o controle oculomotor. CONCLUSÕES: O perfil sensorial dos bebês situou-se entre o normal e em risco. O contexto familiar oferece oportunidades de estimulação suficientes e as creches demonstraram ter boas oportunidades. As horas diárias em creche e o espaço exterior em creche foram os preditores do perfil sensorial no controle oculomotor.

Comparações entre o desempenho motor e oportunidades de estimulação motora no ambiente domiciliar de lactentes residentes nas regiões Sudeste e Norte do Brasil / Comparaciones del desempeño motor y oportunidades de estimulación motora en el entorno del hogar de lactantes moradores en las regiones Sureste y Norte de Brasil / Comparisons between motor performance and opportunities for motor stimulation in the home environment of infants from the North and Southwest regions in Brazil

A proposta deste estudo foi comparar as relações entre o desempenho motor e as características do ambiente familiar (espaço físico, atividades diárias, brinquedos) de lactentes residentes em duas regiões do Brasil, Norte (Marabá, PA) e Sudeste (Piracicaba, SP). Foram utilizados a Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) para a análise do desempenho motor e o Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development - Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS) para a análise do ambiente familiar em oitenta lactentes de 3 a 18 meses de idade. Os grupos dos dois municípios não diferiram quanto ao desempenho motor (p>0,05), porém, foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos no que se refere à frequência em creches, à escolaridade paterna e ao número de quartos nas residências. Os resultados também indicaram diferenças significativas para as oportunidades no lar, com o grupo de Marabá obtendo pontuações significativamente menores na maior parte do AHEMD-IS: espaço externo (p=0,021), brinquedos para motricidade fina (p<0,001) e grossa (p<0,001), e o escore total do AHEMD-IS (p=0,002). Não foram encontradas diferenças entre os grupos nas atividades diárias e no espaço interno da residência. O desempenho motor e as oportunidades no ambiente domiciliar (total do AHEMD-IS) demonstraram uma correlação fraca tanto para o grupo de Marabá (r=0,33; p=0,03) quanto para o grupo de Piracicaba (r=0,45; p<0,001). Em conclusão, apesar dos grupos apresentarem níveis de desenvolvimento motor similares, o grupo de lactentes em Marabá apresentou menos affordances (oportunidades de ação) comparados aos residentes de Piracicaba, o que, no futuro, pode resultar em diferenças no desempenho motor dos grupos.

En este estudio tuvo el propósito de comparar las relaciones entre el desempeño motor y las características del entorno del hogar (el espacio físico, las actividades diarias, los juguetes) de lactantes moradores en dos regiones de Brasil, el Norte (Marabá, PA) y el Sureste (Piracicaba, SP). Se utilizaron el Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) para el desempeño motor y el Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS) para el análisis del entorno del hogar en ochenta lactantes de 3 hasta 18 meses de edad. Los grupos de los dos municipios no presentaron diferencias significativas en relación al desempeño motor (p>0,05), sin embargo, se encontraron diferencias significativas en lo que se refiere a la asistencia a guardería, al nivel de educación del padre y al número de habitaciones en sus casas. Los resultados también mostraron diferencias significativas en las oportunidades en los hogares, el grupo de Marabá obtuvo puntuaciones significativamente menores en la mayor parte del AHEMD-IS: espacio externo (p=0,021), juguetes para habilidades motoras finas (p<0,001) y gruesas (p<0,001), y el escore total del AHEMD-IS (p=0,002). En cuanto a las actividades diarias y al espacio interno de las casas no se encontraron diferencias. El desempeño motor y las oportunidades en el entorno del hogar (total del AHEMD-IS) mostraron una correlación baja tanto para el grupo del Marabá (r=0,33; p=0,03) como para el de Piracicaba (r=0,45; p<0,001). Aunque los grupos presentaron niveles semejantes de desarrollo motor, se concluyó que el grupo de lactantes de Marabá presentó menos affordances (oportunidades de acción) que el de Piracicaba, lo que puede resultar en diferencias para su futuro en relación al desempeño motor de los grupos.

This study aimed at comparing the relationships between motor development and the characteristics in the home environment (physical space, daily activities, toys) of infants in two Brazilian regions, North (Marabá, PA) and Southeast (Piracicaba, SP). Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) was used to analyze motor development, and Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development - Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS) was used in order to analyze the family environments of eight breastfeed babies of 3 to 18 months of age. The groups in the two municipalities were not different in regards to motor development (p<0.05); however, significant differences were found among groups concerning day care frequency, fatherly schooling, and number of rooms in households. The results also indicated significant differences for opportunities at home, with the group from Marabá receiving significantly lower scores for the most part of the AHEMD-IS: external space (p=0.021), toys for fine motor skills (p<0.001), and total AHEMD-IS score (p=0.002). No differences were found among groups in daily activities and the internal space of homes. Motor development and opportunities in the home environment (total AHEMD-IS) were found to have weaker correlations for both the group from Marabá (r=0.33; p=0.03) and the group from Piracicaba (r=0.45; p<0.001). In summary, although both groups had similar motor development levels, the group of infants from Marabá was found to have fewer affordances (opportunities for action) as compared to the ones living in Piracicaba, which may result in differences in the motor development of the groups in the future.

[Factors predicting sensory profile of 4 to 18 month old infants]. / Fatores preditores do perfil sensorial de lactentes dos 4 aos 18 meses de idade.

OBJECTIVE: To identify environment factors predicting sensory profile of infants between 4 and 18 months old. METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated 97 infants (40 females e 57 males), with a mean age of 1.05±0.32 years with the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants (TSFI) and also asked 97 parents and 11 kindergarten teachers of seven daycare centers to answer the Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development- Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS). The AHEMD-IS is a questionnaire that characterizes the opportunities in the home environment for infants between 3 and 18 months of age. We tested the association between affordances and the sensory profile of infants. Significant variables were entered into a regression model to determine predictors of sensory profile. RESULTS: The majority of infants (66%) had a normal sensory profile and 34% were at risk or deficit. Affordances in the home were classified as adequate and they were good in the studied daycare centers. The results of the regression revealed that only daily hours in daycare center and daycare outside space influenced the sensory profile of infants, in particular the Ocular-Motor Control component. CONCLUSIONS: The sensory profile of infants was between normal and at risk. While the family home offered adequate affordances for motor development, the daycare centers of the infants involved demonstrated a good quantity and quality of affordances. Overall, we conclude that daily hours in the daycare center and daycare outside space were predictors of the sensory profile, particular on Ocular-Motor Control component.