Associated movement reduction training for children with developmental coordination disorder: a pilot trial

Aims: Associated movements (AMs) are an indicator of poor movement quality, and are prevalent in children with motor impairment. The ability of children to inhibit AMs has been demonstrated in the hands, but the possibility of reducing AMs that involve both the upper and lower limbs has not been investigated. The aims of this study were to explore the possibility of reducing the AMs and to examine if the reduction of the AMs impacts on locomotion. Methods: An AM reduction intervention under stress gait conditions was piloted in nine children with developmental coordination disorder. A single-case alternating treatment design was used to evaluate the intervention effects of AM reduction training (experimental treatment) and strength training (control treatment) on the AMs under stress gait and running form, over a period of six months. Findings: Visual inspection of individual time-series plots from four children with intact data revealed a reduction of AMs, but the effect was temporary in two cases. The reduction of AMs did not coincide with the improvement of running form. Conclusions: This study highlighted the possibility of reducing AMs under stress gait, and indicated that the reduction of AMs did not improve the movement quality of running form.