Current approaches for training postural control in children with developmental coordination disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Any postural training works for DCD if it is multi-system, goal-specific, and fun.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Velghe et al. (2025) pooled every trial they could find on postural control training for kids with developmental coordination disorder.
They compared kids who got any kind of balance training to kids who got none.
The review looked for big, real-world changes, not just lab scores.
What they found
Training produced large, clear gains in balance.
No single method beat the rest; the key was mixing tasks that matter to the child.
More games, sports, and daily-life moves worked better than one-size drills.
How this fits with other research
MacFarland et al. (2025) extends these results. They showed six weeks of home exergaming also lifts MABC-2 balance scores, proving digital games can deliver the training.
Godoi-Jacomassi et al. (2025) explains why training helps. Kids with DCD send more, messier postural commands and lean too hard on vision. Exercises that force them to shift weight and cut vision teach better patterns.
Amore et al. (2011) foreshadowed the goal link. They found only MABC-2 balance scores predict how many after-school activities a child joins, so picking sport-relevant drills should boost participation, not just lab sway.
Why it matters
You do not need a fancy protocol. Pick balance tasks the child cares about: skateboard, Wii Fit, tree pose while catching a ball. Mix static and moving challenges. Drop visual cues sometimes so they learn to trust feel. Track MABC-2 balance each month; when scores rise, add harder real-play goals like bike riding or playground tag.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
AIM: This study primarily evaluated the effectiveness of postural control training in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and secondarily mapped targeted postural systems and adherence to DCD guidelines. METHODS: A systematic search (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) was conducted. Data on participants, training, postural systems (Anticipatory Postural Adjustments (APA), Reactive Postural Adjustments, Orientation in Space, Control of Dynamics, Sensory Orientation, Biomechanical Factors, Cognitive Functioning), outcome measures, and adherence to DCD guidelines (task-/goal-/context-oriented) were extracted. Effect sizes (ES; Hedges' g) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Sixteen studies (818 children with DCD; 527 in training) were included, covering twenty training programs: exergaming (n = 7), task-specific (n = 5), sport-specific (n = 4), strength (n = 2), reactive (n = 1), and generic balance (n = 1) training. Compared to no training, postural control training showed large benefits (ES= -1.79, 95 % CI=[-2.37;- 1.14], p < 0.001), however, effects were non-significant when compared between training types (ES: 0.17; CI=[-0.34;0.67]). Most programs targeted up to three postural systems, focusing on APA, Orientation in Space, and Control of Dynamics. Few were goal- or context-specific, limiting adherence to DCD guidelines. CONCLUSION: Large effect sizes indicate beneficial effects for children with DCD after postural control training compared to no training but does not indicate a preference for any type of training. Current training programs lack a multi-systemic approach, potentially limiting effectiveness, and often fail to incorporate goal-oriented and contextspecific elements. These gaps in literature emphasize the need for therapists to consider all postural control systems and DCD guidelines when designing training programs.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2025 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2025.105116