Evidence-based treatment of motor co-ordination disorder

Abstract 

An important component of evidence-based practice is evaluation of the published research on treatment effectiveness. In the case of children with developmental co-ordination disorder, the required evidence for choosing an approach to treatment is the effect of the approach on improving motor skills and functional performance. Recent and current literature demonstrate the difficulties of carrying out evidence-based searches in this field. None of the studies reviewed give robust evidence that intervention for developmental co-ordination disorder is more effective than simple task-orientated programmes. For research to be effective in this field, studies and trials must be properly financed and appropriately organized. Also, controlled data are necessary to allow subgroup meta-analysis.

Keywords:  developmental co-ordination disorder, clumsiness, dyspraxia, evidence-based treatment