Background: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) describes children with a difficulty to acquire age-specific motor skills. Although there is a significant body of literature addressing developmental and cognitive issues in children with DCD, few studies have actually examined the associations between DCD, physical activity and physical fitness. Therefore, the aim of the present research work was to assess these associations in a series of four successive studies which were set: a) (study 1) to estimate DCD prevalence rates in Greek children and investigate whether these children exhibit different obesity and cardiorespiratory fitness levels than an overseas sample, b) (study 2) to provide evidence on the association between DCD and physical fitness levels, c) (study 3) examine whether a motor skills and exercise training intervention programme affects motor proficiency in a cohort of elementary school children with and without DCD, and d) (study 4) to test the hypothesis that DCD is associated with CVD risk, identify modes of physical activity that mediate such an association and to evaluate the CSAPPA scale as a potential tool for identifying Greek children for DCD. Methods: The total of 574 Greek (Age: 11.46 ± 1.54 years; BMI: 19.96 ± 3.53) children were assessed for anthropometry, physical fitness (flexibility, hand strength, leg explosive power, speed and cardiorespiratory fitness), motor competence (i.e., short form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Profiency- BOTMP-sf) and subjected to two self assessments for: i) perception of adequacy for physical activity (CSAPPA scale), and ii) children’s participation in physical activity (Participation Questionnaire - PQ). Results: Study 1: Greek children demonstrated significantly higher DCD prevalence rates (p<0.05), higher body fat (p<0.05) and were inferior in both cardiorespiratory fitness (p<0.05) and motor competence (p<0.05) compared to an overseas sample. Study 2: Greek children with DCD demonstrated significantly higher BMI values (p<0.01) and lower leg explosive power (p<0.01), speed (p<0.01) and hand strength (p<0.01) than those without DCD. Study 3: Results showed a significant main effect of time [F(14, 115) = 3.79, p< 0.001; η2 = 0.32] for motor competence (p<0.001) between children with and without DCD. Significant main effects of group (i.e intervention and control groups) [F(42, 351) = 4.01, p< 0.001; η2 = 0.33] were observed for BMI (p<0.01), motor competence (p<0.01), cardiorespiratory fitness (p<0.01), hand strength (p<0.05), leg explosive power (p<0.05), speed (p<0.01), and free time play activities (p<0.05). Study 4: Chi-square comparisons and ANOVA, revealed significantly increased body mass (p<0.05), BMI (p<0.05) and inactivity (p<0.05), as well as significantly decreased cardiorespiratory fitness (p<0.05), motor competence (p<0.05), CSAPPA indices, and participation in free play (p<0.05) in children with DCD. Furthermore, BMI and cardiorespiratory fitness were significantly associated with motor competence (p<0.05) with inactivity as the mediating factor (p<0.05). ROC curve analyses for CSAPPA indicated an optimal cut-off at 62 points. Conclusions: 1) the relatively high DCD and obesity prevalence rates together with the low cardiorespiratory fitness suggest greater health risk for Greek children with the studied condition, 2) children with DCD tend to perform worse in selected physical fitness parameters compared to their normal peers, 3) motor skills and exercise training interventions for children with DCD may improve health and skills related fitness, and 4) inactivity mediates the relationship between DCD and CVD risk in children with DCD. Finally, the CSAPPA scale may serve as a practical and a cost-effective proxy assessment for identifying Greek children with DCD, however as this is not a standardised test for use with children, its use should be treated with caution until further validation work.

This study involved the effects of a perceptual motor enrichment program upon the motor skills of a six year old boy with cerebellar brain damage, who, with a control group of ten normal six year olds, was given a pre-test of motor skills. He and a child from the control group participated in a perceptual-motor enrichment program. The motor skills of both subjects were tested halfway through the program. Following the program, the experimental child, the control child, and the control group were post-tested on their motor skills. The testings showed that the greatest gains in motor skills were obtained by the experimental child, followed by the control child. The control group displayed little increase in motor skill performance.

Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism is a form of pervasive developmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication and restricted and stereotyped interests. These children are often clumsy and motor uncoordinated. They also performed worse in standardized tests of motor function. In this diploma thesis we used Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2 (MABC-2) for assessment motor skills in children with Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism aged 7-10 years in comparison with the group of children developing typically. Our study included 9 children with Asperger syndrome, 3 children with high-functioning autism and 64 children with typical development. Evident motor deficit (below 5. percentile) was found in 2 children with Asperger syndrome and 3 children with high-functioning autism. 1 child with Asperger syndrome was in a risk of motor deficit (6.-16. percentile). Children with Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism performed significantly worse than children developing typically in a total score of this test. Significant difference was found in two components of MABC-2, in Aiming and catching (AC) and Balance (BAL). Better results reached children with typical development. Results of this study indicate that children with Asperger syndrome...

This diploma thesis deals with very low birth weight children in relation to the occurrence of motor problems. The theoretical part provides an overview of knowledge about the low birth children's problems, early postnatal problems and problems from childhood to adulthood in the physical, psychological and pedagogic field. The main part of the theoretical information concerns the occurrence of motor disorders, particularly the developmental dyspraxia and motor disorders about very low birth children. The aim of the practical part of the work was to determine whether low birth weight infants have higher incidence of developmental dyspraxia in comparison with term infants. The research group consisted of 25 low birth weight children, they were examined by Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2 (MABC-2). Children were examinate for posture and postural functions compiled using our protocol. The another aim of the practical part of the work was to determine whether low birht weight children have higher incidence of physical activity in steps by week in comparison with normal birth weight infants. There was significant difference in the incidence of motor disorders between the research group and the control group of 73 normal birth weight children and standard population and the group of late...

Diplomová práce Hodnocení vývojové dyspraxie u dětí s vývojovou dysfázií Abstract This thesis focuses on possible incidence of developmental dyspraxia among children with developmental dysphasia. Theoretical part of the study summarizes information about developmental dyspraxia (sometimes also known as developmental coordination disorder). It also describes developmental dysphasia which is predominantly studied in logopaedics and it is less known in physiotherapy. The link between these disorders is the topic of the last chapter of the theoretical part. The aim of the practical part is to evaluate motor skills of children with developmental dysphasia with usage of diagnostic battery Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2. Both foreign and newly published Czech population norms have been used for analysis of the results. In the research, 89 children with average age of 69 months have been examined. The first group included 41 children with developmental dysphasia. For this first group, the control group of 48 children was also set up. The research proved statistically significant difference between motor skills of children with developmental dysphasia in comparison to the control group. This difference has been proven by both Czech and foreign norms. On the other hand difference between motor skills of...

In its theoretical part, the thesis "Postural Function at Early Age and Final Condition of Motor Functions at Preschool Age" summarizes the knowledge of motor abilities and skills, postural control and development, control and development of rough and fine motorics. At the same time, the theoretical part resumes briefly characteristic features of developmental coordination disorders, way of their diagnostics and possible treatment. Furthermore, it presents the most common tests used for motorics assessment and its disorders. Practical part focuses on comparison of results according to developmental kinesiology as an investigation method and MABC-2 test. There have not been found any statistically important relations between the results of the developmental kinesiology test as an investigation method performed in the first and fifth week and in the third month of postnatal development and the results of MABC-2 test performed in the same children at school age. Likewise, there seem to be no statistically important relation between the results of MABC-2 test in children playing sports and those not playing any sport, neither in the results of MABC-2 test in children of sporting parents and non- sporting parents. Key words: Postural function, developmental kinesiology, motor abilities, motor skills,...

The thesis deals with the issue of the movement activities of pre-school age children. Movement is built into the plane of an important aspect in the holistic development of the pre- school age child whose absence may endanger this development. In the theoretical part are defined terms of movement, basic motor skills and mapping their development with a focus on the specifics of pre-school age. Also the position of the movement activity is approaching in pre-school education. The practical section compares the results of motor test pre-school age children from selected kindergarten and evaluated in relation to their conditions.

Motor skills disorder of upper limb motor disorders is currently a frequent reason for large population disability. That is why it is necessary to adress this issue and look for possibilities of proper evaluation and therapy. One of the standard methods is Jebsen- Taylor test (JTT). This thesis deals with theoretical aspects of the Jebsen-Taylor test and presents results of the research verifying psychometric characterictics of the test as well as influence of demografic characteristics on the performance in the test. The theoretical part deals with motor skills disorder that are closely related with the test. The practical part presents results of the research using the sample of nonrandomised Czech non-clinical population. The aim is to create basic norms of the Jebsen-Taylor test and this particular population.The norms were created on a sample of 180 persons separately for men and women divided into three age groups (20-59, 60-75, 76-99). The age of the participants influences the results in most subtests of the Jebsen-Taylor test. With the increasing age, an average time of particular subtests increases, too. The gender influence was not notably manifested in most subtests. In the group of men the performance of the upper limb showed significant difference. On the other hand, in the group of...

of diploma thesis: Objective In the Czech republic there is no normative data for Purdue pegboard test in any reprezentative group of people. First goal of this diploma thesis is to determine basic normative data Purdue pegboard test in not representative sample of people with traumatic brain injury at the age of 22-40 years in chronic phase. Second goal is to determine clinical utility of Purdue pegboard test in this clinical population group of people. The Student t-test and ambiguity proportion was used to statistic analyse the hypothesis. As a graphic processing was choosen the linear equation with the image of the Gaussian curve. There are analysed 3 case studies about people with traumatic brain injury to accomplish second goal. There is no significant difference in Purdue pegboard test score in employed and unemployed people with traumatic brain injury, equally to women and men with traumatic brain injury. There is evidence, that age influence score of Purdue pegboard test in men with traumatic brain injury, but not in women with traumatic brain injury. There are presented basic norms of Purdue pegboard test in people with traumatic brain injury in standard and percentile scale in this thesis. Normative data in people with traumatic brain injury makes easier to work with this clinical...

Title: Assessment of motor performance in primary school age Objective: The work had to determinate the condition of motor performance children. Children were from 7 to 11 years old. We wanted to demonstrate increase of motor performance as consequence of natural evolution. We investigated the condition of motor performance and a level of motor abilities. Methods: The main method was the test battery Unifittest 6- 60. This battery showed basic motor performance. We found the condition of movement regime of questionnaire. Results: Bmi moves in a normal category. The basic motor performance moves below average. Girls have the worst results in 11 years. Boys have the worst results in 10 years. Girls have the best results in 7 years. Boys have the best results in 8 years. Motor performace decreases with age. Movement regime don't neglected. The most children visit sports club at least once a week (42,9%). Some children visit sports clubs 3-4 times a week (37%). The most favorite sports are colective games, dancing and swimming. Conclusion: The results show decline of basic motor performance. Dominant physical abilities don't evolve in revelant age. Movement regime isn't neglected, but regime doesn't suffice for development. Children choose of many activities. Children commute to activities often. Key...