Sensory organization of balance control in children with developmental coordination disorder.
Movement ABC-2 balance score, not lab sensory data, tells you which kids with DCD skip real-world activities.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team compared kids with developmental coordination disorder to typically developing peers.
They used two balance tests: the Movement ABC-2 balance section and the Sensory Organization Test.
The goal was to see which test scores best predicted how many after-school activities a child joined.
What they found
Children with DCD had lower scores on both balance tests.
Only the Movement ABC-2 balance score forecast how many sports, clubs, or play dates a child tried.
Lab-based sensory scores did not predict real-life participation.
How this fits with other research
Godoi-Jacomassi et al. (2025) extends this work. They show that kids with DCD wobble more on a force plate and use vision differently. Their finer metrics help you decide if the issue is weak predictive control or poor sensory weighting.
MacFarland et al. (2025) also extends the finding. They proved that six weeks of home exergaming raises Movement ABC-2 balance scores. This is the same measure M et al. flagged as the participation predictor, so improving it may open more activities.
McGonigle et al. (2014) widens the picture. They tracked free-play time and saw kids with DCD join fewer pick-up games. Together the papers form a chain: weak balance → less confidence → skipped activities.
Why it matters
You now have a quick clinical shortcut. Give the Movement ABC-2 balance section first. A low score signals restricted participation before you even ask the parent.
If the score is low, send home an exergame plan. MacFarland et al. (2025) showed it lifts the same score in six weeks. Targeting balance this way may quickly widen the child’s after-school world.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study aimed to (1) compare functional balance performance and sensory organization of postural control between children with and without developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and (2) determine the association between postural control and participation diversity among children with DCD. We recruited 81 children with DCD and 67 typically developing children. Balance was evaluated with the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (Movement ABC-2). Participation patterns were evaluated using the Children Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment assessment. Analysis of variance was used to compare outcome variables between the two groups. A multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between participation diversity and balance performance in children with DCD. The DCD group had significantly lower Movement ABC-2 balance scores, SOT-derived equilibrium scores, and sensory ratios than the control group (p<0.05). However, only the Movement ABC-2 balance score was significantly associated with participation diversity in children with DCD. After accounting for the effects of age and gender, Movement ABC-2 balance score remained significantly associated with participation diversity, explaining 10.9% of the variance (F(change1,77) = 9.494, p = 0.003). Children with DCD demonstrate deficits in sensory organization of balance control. This suboptimal balance ability contributes to limited participation in activities.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.07.025