Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a developmental condition that affects 1 to 2 children in every Canadian classroom. It is characterized by problems with coordination that causes children to have trouble with everyday activities including sports and play. Older children with poor coordination have been repeatedly shown to be less physically fit than other children. Because of this it is believed that children with DCD are at an increased risk for becoming overweight, and developing health issues later in life. However, we do not know when fitness levels begin to decline. In our study, we have tested 66 children with DCD and 35 typically developing (TD) children aged 4 to 5. We examined their motor skills and how fit they are. We found that children with DCD did not last as long on the treadmill test and could not produce as much muscle power on the bike test. However their heart rates were able to recover after exercise just as well as their TD peers. As recovery does not seem to be impaired yet in young children with DCD, this may be an ideal time to intervene to help maintain and potentially improve their fitness levels.