Pulmonary function in children with development coordination disorder.
Kids with DCD have weaker lung capacity, so keep aerobic loads light and monitor fatigue.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team compared lung power in two groups of 8- to 11-year-olds. One group had developmental coordination disorder. The other group moved typically.
Each child blew into a spirometer. The machine read forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume. These numbers show how much air the lungs can push out.
What they found
Kids with DCD scored lower on both lung measures. Their FVC and FEV1 were smaller than same-age peers.
Girls with DCD showed a clear link. Poorer movement scores matched lower lung numbers.
How this fits with other research
Xenitidis et al. (2010) saw the same pattern one year earlier. Those kids also ran an 800 m test more slowly.
Robertson et al. (2013) took the next step. They showed kids with DCD use about 20 % more oxygen while biking at the same workload. The weak lungs in the target paper help explain that waste.
Peters et al. (2013) seem to disagree. They found no extra oxygen cost while running. Treadmill running may hide ventilatory limits that show up on a bike or at rest.
Whitehouse et al. (2013) also report no fitness gap across DCD severity levels. Cultural or tool differences may explain the mismatch with the Taiwan data.
Why it matters
You now have a quick, low-cost warning signal. A simple spirometer can flag children who will tire fast during PE or therapy. Plan shorter bursts of activity, watch for heavy breathing, and build rest breaks into skill sessions.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare pulmonary function in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) with children who are typically developing (TD), and also analyze possible gender differences in pulmonary function between these groups. The Movement ABC test was used to identify the movement coordination ability of children. Two hundred and fifty participants (90 children with DCD and 160 TD children) aged 9-10 years old completed this study. Using the KoKo spirometry, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV(1.0)) were used to measure pulmonary function. The 800-m run was also conducted to assess cardiopulmonary fitness of children in the field. There was a significant difference in pulmonary function between TD children and those with DCD. The values of FVC and FEV(1.0) in TD children were significantly higher than in children with DCD. A significant, but low correlation (r = -0.220, p < .001) was found between total score on the MABC and FVC; similarly, a positive but low correlation (r = 0.252, p < .001) was found between total score on the MABC and the completion time of 800-m run. However, no significant correlation between FVC and the time of 800-m run was found (p > .05). Significant correlations between total score on the MABC and the completion time of the 800-m run (r = 0.352, p < .05) and between FVC and the time of 800-m run (r = -0.285, p < .05) were observed in girls with DCD but not boys with this condition. Based on the results of this study, pulmonary function in children with DCD was significantly lower than that of TD children. The field test, 800-m run, may not be a good indicator to distinguish aerobic ability between children with DCD and those who are TD. It is possible that poor pulmonary function in children with DCD is due to reduced physical activity in this population.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2010.12.007