Psychosocial implications of poor motor coordination in children and adolescents

AbstractThis study investigated the associations between biological and environmental factors and gross-motor coordination (GMC) in Peruvian children and adolescents. The sample comprised 7401 boys and girls, aged 6–14 years, recruited from three geographical regions: sea-level, Amazon and high-altitude. Biological variables included age, sex, height, BMI, physical fitness, stunting, and maturational status. Environmental influences included geographical region and school characteristics. Gross-motor coordination was tested with the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder and the data analyzed by multilevel logistic regression. Results showed a high prevalence of below normal GMC scores. Sex, age, geographical area, biological maturation, BMI (normal versus overweight/obesity), and stunting were all significant predictors of GMC. There was also an interaction between age, sex, and geographical area indicating that older girls who lived at sea-level and high-altitude were more likely to display below normal GMC scores. The school context was less important in predicting GMC problems than the interplay between biological characteristics and geographical region. These results suggest that early identification, as well as educational and pediatric care interventions, are of importance in reducing below normal GMC among Peruvian children and adolescents.

Download Full-text

Effect of Motor Imagery Training on Motor Learning in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18189467 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (18) ◽

pp. 9467

Author(s):

Frank Behrendt ◽

Valerie Zumbrunnen ◽

Lynn Brem ◽

Zorica Suica ◽

Szabina Gäumann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Motor Learning ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Motor Imagery ◽

Motor Coordination ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Whole Body ◽

Imagery Training ◽

Learning Tasks ◽

Standard Mean Difference

Background: There is an urgent need to systematically analyze the growing body of literature on the effect of motor imagery (MI) training in children and adolescents. Methods: Seven databases and clinicaltrials.gov were searched. Two reviewers independently screened references and full texts, and extracted data (studies’ methodology, MI elements, temporal parameters). Two studies were meta-analyzed providing the standard mean difference (SDM). Selected studies were evaluated with the risk of bias (RoB) and GRADE tools. Results: A total of 7238 references were retrieved. The sample size of the 22 included studies, published between 1995 and 2021, ranged from 18 to 136 participants, totaling 934 (nine to 18 years). Studies included healthy pupils, mentally retarded adolescents, children with motor coordination difficulties or with mild mental disabilities. The motor learning tasks focused on upper, lower and whole body movements. SMDs for the primary outcome of pooled studies varied between 0.83 to 1.87 (95% CI, I2, T2 varied 0.33–3.10; p = 0.001; 0–74%; 0–0.59). RoB varied between some concerns and high risk. GRADE rating was low. Conclusions: MI combined with physical practice (PP) might have a high potential for healthy and impaired children and adolescents. However, important reporting recommendations (PETTLEP, TIDieR, CONSORT) should be followed. The systematic review was registered with PROSPERO: CRD42021237361.

Download Full-text

Do motor coordination and sleep difficulties predict peer functioning in children and adolescents with attention‐deficit and hyperactivity disorder after accounting for existing ADHD symptomology?

British Journal of Developmental Psychology ◽

10.1111/bjdp.12327 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 442-457

Author(s):

Vincent O. Mancini ◽

Kathryn E. Althorpe ◽

Wai Chen

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Motor Coordination ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Sleep Difficulties

Download Full-text

Individual, school and natural environment influences on children with motor coordination problems: The Peruvian Health and Optimist Growth Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-442712/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sara Pereira ◽

Alcibíades Bustamante ◽

Carla Santos ◽

Donald Hedeker ◽

Go Tani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nutritional Status ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Sea Level ◽

Natural Environment ◽

Motor Coordination ◽

School Context ◽

Geographical Area ◽

Pediatric Care ◽

Biological Maturation

Abstract This study investigates the interplay between individual and natural environments, as well as the effects of school characteristics, on Peruvian children and adolescents’ gross motor coordination (GMC) problems. The sample comprises 7401 participants (4121 girls) aged 6–14 years from three geographical regions: sea-level, Amazon and high-altitude. GMC categories (normal and with problems) were defined from the KörperkoordinationsTest für Kinder test battery. Stunting (height-for-age) and nutritional status (BMI-for-age) were obtained from WHO Growth Standards. Biological maturation was estimated, and physical fitness was measured. School context information was obtained from an objective audit. Logistic multilevel analysis was used. Results showed a high prevalence of GMC problems in Peruvian youth. Sex, age, geographical area of residence, biological maturation, nutritional status, stunting and physical fitness were important predictors of GMC problems. Moreover, there was an interaction between age, sex, and geographical area showing that girls, older subjects, and those from sea level regions were more likely to display GMC problems. The school context was less important in predicting GMC problems than the interplay between individual characteristics and the natural environment. The early identification as well as educational and pediatric care interventions are of utmost importance to reduce GMC problems among Peruvian children and adolescents.

Download Full-text

HYPOXIC THERAPY IN THE CORRECTION OF NEUROIMMUNOENDOCRINE DISORDERS IN AUTOIMMUNE THYROIDITIS

Medical academic journal ◽

10.17816/maj191s149-51 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1S) ◽

pp. 49-51

Author(s):

Z Kh Abazova ◽

I Kh Borukaeva

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Autoimmune Thyroiditis ◽

Motor Coordination ◽

Neurological Status ◽

Fine Motor ◽

Compensatory Mechanisms ◽

Cd8 Cells ◽

Humoral Immune ◽

Hypoxic Training ◽

Cell Immunity

Efficiency of interval hypoxic training in treatment of hypothyroidism with autoimmune genesis in children and adolescents was shown. The therapeutic effect of hypoxic therapy realized not only through amplification of compensatory mechanisms for the oxygen delivery to the tissues, but also through inhibition of humoral immune responses and the stimulation of T-cell immunity in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. Increase of function and quantity of CD8+-cells after a course of hypoxic therapy prevents the progression of the autoimmune process and helps to restore the function of the thyroid gland, which in turn leads to positive changes in the neurological status of patients: improved mental performance indicators and fine motor coordination. Complications of therapy or deterioration of the patients were not observed. Follow-up monitoring of patients conducted after 6-8 months after treatment showed that the positive effect of hypoxic therapy maintained throughout this period. Positive hormonal and immunological and neurological dynamics in children and adolescents with autoimmune thyroiditis after the interval hypoxic training suggests its inclusion in the scheme of pathogenetic treatment of patients with this pathology.

Download Full-text