Effect of verbal cues on the coupling and stability of anti-phase bimanual coordination pattern in children with probable developmental coordination disorder

Hum Mov Sci. 2024 Feb 14;94:103183. doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2024.103183. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe study of the emergence and stability of bimanual and interlimb coordination patterns in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) has shown that they encounter greater difficulties in coupling their limbs compared to typically developing (TD) children. Verbal cues have been identified as strategies to direct children's attention to more relevant task information, thus potentially improving motor performance. Consequently, this study investigated the effect of providing verbal cues on the execution of bimanual tasks in children with and without probable DCD. Twenty-eight children aged 9-10, matched by age and gender, were divided into two groups: pDCD [n = 14] and TD. The children performed bilateral trajectory movements with both hands (horizontal back-and-forth), holding a pen on a tablet, in anti-phase (180°) coordination pattern, in two conditions: No cues and Verbal cues. In the last condition, children received verbal cues to maintain the anti-phase pattern even with an increase in hand oscillation frequency. Relative phase and variability of relative phase between the hands were calculated for analysis of pattern coupling and stability. Hand cycles, movement amplitude, and tablet pressure force were calculated to analyze pattern control parameters. All these variables were compared between groups and conditions. The results indicated that despite the pD...
Source: Human Movement Science - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research