Tai Chi-muscle Power Training for Primary School Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of Tai Chi-muscle power training (TC-MPT), Tai Chi (TC) alone, muscle power training (MPT) alone, and usual care (as a control) for improving the limits of stability (LOS) of balance control in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and to explore the relationship among LOS, falls, and functional performance in this population. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Sample: 156 children with DCD. Interventions: TC-MPT, TC alone, MPT alone, or usual care for 12 weeks. Major outcomes: Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, post-intervention, and a 3-month follow-up. An LOS test will give a dynamic LOS score, an isokinetic test will quantify leg muscle force production speed, Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 will be used to assess functional motor performance, and fall history will be obtained via interviews. Anticipated results and significance: The TC-MPT group is predicted to display the best LOS balance performance, which is associated with reduced fall incidents and improved functional performance. This novel training regime could be readily adopted into school or clinical settings to improve physical well-being in children with DCD, an outcome with positive socioeconomic implications.