The importance of psychomotor training for children, aged 7-14 years, with congenital heart disease (CHD)

Motor development of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) can be disrupted by lack of physical exercise. The aim of this study was to identify deficits in the motor development of CHD children and to examine the possible benefits of a special psychomotor training program. 38 CHD children (10,4 +/- 1,7 years of age) participated in an 8-month psychomotor program. The participants' motor development was examined before and after the exercise program. Deficits in motor development were found in 61 % of the children before the program, but in only 38 % of them after the program, thereby increasing the motor quotient (MQ) significantly from 'abnormal' to 'normal'. These results emphasize the need of special psychomotor training programs for CHD children.