Masters Degrees (Physiotherapy)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Physiotherapy) by Subject "Apraxia -- Preschool children"

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    The effects of an eight week grouped exercise programme on gross motor proficiency in children with minimal motor dysfunction.
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03) Kolesky, Jacqueline Mary; Unger, Marianne; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. Physiotherapy.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: During typical development of a child, experience and maturation both influence the development of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems, which enable children to explore their environment and develop and refine their motor skills. These skills develop in such a way, that when a child is ready to begin formal schooling, they have built up a repertoire of movement skills that, it is hoped, will be sufficient to function effectively in the classroom, on the playground, and at home. The reality is however, that some children do not arrive at school with the movement skills necessary for coping with the demands of a school environment. Most recently this group of children, given specific criteria, are now classified as having Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition) (DSM-IV). Scarce-skilled staff shortages has limited individual therapy and these children are often treated in groups, despite limited proven efficacy. This study aims to validate the current practice of group therapy in special schools by investigating whether group exercise physiotherapy does improve the gross motor function of children with minimal motor dysfunction/DCD aged four to fourteen years old. Methods: The study took place in a special school in the Eastern Cape that caters for learners with average intellectual ability but present with barriers to learning. Thirty-seven children were assessed at pre and post intervention on the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTM-P) as well as the Beery Test for visualmotor integration by a blinded research assistant and occupational therapist respectively. They were randomly allocated to either a control (N=19) or an intervention group (N=18). The intervention group was then further subdivided into groups of three to four per group to attend group exercise sessions of 30 minutes three times per week. Group exercises were aimed at improving hand-eye coordination, ball skills and balance by incorporating aerobic exercises and strengthening exercises. Results: There was a significant increase (p=.004) in the total scores tested by the experimental group on the BOTM-P after the eight week intervention. Global motor proficiency skills (gross motor, response speed, upper limb co-ordination, visualmotor control and upper limb speed and dexterity) improved clinically, but not significantly (p=0.14). Beery scores showed clinical improvement, but were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The results of this study support the hypothesis that an eight week group exercise program can improve the gross motor skills of children with DCD. It would seem that implementing such an intervention is a viable option, especially where resources limit the availability of one to one therapy.