Physical fitness in children with developmental coordination disorder: measurement matters.
Low scores on jump and shuttle-run tests in DCD often reflect timing errors, not weak muscles.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Berkovits et al. (2014) tested the kids with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and 32 typically-developing peers. They ran the same aerobic and strength tests on both groups. The goal was to see if poor scores came from real weakness or from the way the test was given.
Tests included a 20-meter shuttle run, sit-ups, standing long jump, and hand-grip. Each child tried every test once under normal gym conditions.
What they found
Kids with DCD scored lower on the shuttle run and on jumps that needed timing, like the long jump. Their hand-grip and single-leg hops matched the control group.
The pattern showed the problem was not raw strength. It was repeating fast, whole-body moves that exposed clumsy timing.
How this fits with other research
Carter et al. (2013) saw the same kids move less each day. They asked why. The new study gives part of the answer: poor scores on timed tests can scare kids away from sports, so they practice even less.
Lennon et al. (2015) warned that the six-minute walk test fools therapists working with adults who have cerebral palsy. Berkovits et al. (2014) now show a similar trap for kids with DCD: explosive jump tests also hide coordination errors inside what looks like low fitness.
Rieth et al. (2022) found a quick hand-grip-to-BMI ratio works for teens with Down syndrome. The DCD work agrees: simple static tests (grip, single hop) stay fair, while rapid repeat tests skew low.
Why it matters
Before you label a child “unfit,” pick tests that match their motor stage. Use grip, single hops, or paced treadmill tests. Skip long-jump or beep-run scores when planning goals. This keeps reports accurate and saves kids from needless “low fitness” labels that can shrink future PE opportunities.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) experience considerable difficulties coordinating and controlling their body movements during functional motor tasks. Thus, it is not surprising that children with DCD do not perform well on tests of physical fitness. The aim of this study was to determine whether deficits in motor coordination influence the ability of children with DCD to perform adequately on physical fitness tests. A case-control study design was used to compare the performance of children with DCD (n=70, 36 boys, mean age=8 y 1 mo) and Typically Developing (TD) children (n=70, 35 boys, mean age=7 y 9 mo) on measures of isometric strength (hand-held dynamometry), functional strength, i.e. explosive power and muscular endurance (Functional Strength Measurement), aerobic capacity (20 m Shuttle Run Test) and anaerobic muscle capacity, i.e. muscle power (Muscle Power Sprint Test). Results show that children with DCD were able to generate similar isometric forces compared to TD children in isometric break tests, but were significantly weaker in three-point grip strength. Performance on functional strength items requiring more isolated explosive movement of the upper extremities, showed no significant difference between groups while items requiring muscle endurance (repetitions in 30s) and items requiring whole body explosive movement were all significantly different. Aerobic capacity was lower for children with DCD whereas anaerobic performance during the sprint test was not. Our findings suggest that poor physical fitness performance in children with DCD may be partly due to poor timing and coordination of repetitive movements.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2014 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.01.031