Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-119). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brock University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-109).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Indiana University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-119)

Currently a lack of guidelines for Criterion B of the DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) hampers diagnosis of children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The Performance of Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (PADL-Q; Dewey, Larkin & Summers, 2004) is a new parent-reported instrument developed to quantify the level of interference in activities of daily living (ADL) experienced by children with DCD and was tested for its efficacy in addressing Criterion B. Thirty-two children aged between 5 and 10 years comprising two matched groups, 16 with DCD (8 boys and 8 girls) and 16 without DCD (8 boys and 8 girls) participated in the study. The aim of the research was to investigate the ability of the PADL-Q to identify differences between children with and without DCD. A further 5 children, in the same age range, who did not have DCD added data that was used to ascertain relationships between the constituent assessments. All children were tested using the MAND (McCarron, 1982) whilst their parents completed the PADL-Q. A set of Tests of Activities of Daily Living (TADL) tasks were devised for the children to perform that further validated parents ratings of children?s ADL performance. A Group x Gender MANCOVA, controlled for age, of the PADL-Q total scores demonstrated that there was a significant difference between the children with and without DCD (F(3,25) = 9.44, p < .001; Wilks' lambda = 0.47). Follow-up univariate tests showed a Group x Gender interaction and simple main effects of this interaction indicated that the PADL-Q did not discriminate between the DCD and non-DCD boys. The ability of the PADL-Q to identify DCD was explored in the concurrent validity against the MAND when using a diagnostic cut-off point. The PADL-Q demonstrated 100% specificity and positive predictive values but only 19% sensitivity and 62% negative predictive values. There was a moderately strong relationship (r = .71), between the PADL-Q total score, considered a measure of Criterion B, and the MAND, a measure of Criterion A (DSMIV- TR, 2000). A two factor (Group x Gender) ANCOVA, controlled for age, of the TADL items revealed a statistically significant effect for DCD only (F(1,19) = 34.65, p < .001). There was a moderate correlation (r = -.64) between the PADL-Q total score and the TADL tasks, indicating that parent-reports are supported by their child?s performance. The PADL-Q appears to have potential as part of the DCD diagnostic process; however, further refinement on a larger sample is necessary before it can be used as an easily-administered guide to ADL performance levels in children.

[Truncated abstract] This thesis consists of five experimental studies from seven data collection periods. The first two studies quantitatively analyse children with and without cerebral palsy using upper limb three dimensional (3D) motion analysis. Upper limb angular kinematics and sub-structures were measured and analysed, both of which were utilised during subsequent studies. The final three studies assess the efficacy of lycra® arm splints using clinical assessments, 3D dimensional upper limb kinematics and 3D sub-structures. Study 1 analysed 3D movement sub-structures in children with and without cerebral palsy ... The aim of the study was to quantitatively analyse movement sub-structures in children with and without cerebral palsy during four functional tasks taken from the Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function (Melbourne Assessment - Randall, Johnson & Reddihough, 1999) ... Results demonstrated significant differences in angular kinematics in children with and without cerebral palsy, while the methodology developed in this study provided improved insight into the movement of the upper limb and trunk during functional tasks. Study 3 reported a randomised controlled trial of lycra® arm splints in children with cerebral palsy across all levels of the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) ... Lycra® arm splints were shown to have a statistically significant impact at the level of participation, whereas no significant difference was seen at the level of impairment and activity. Study 4 reported a randomised controlled trial of the effects of lycra® arm splints on 3D movement sub-structures during functional tasks in children with cerebral palsy ... This research demonstrated that movement sub-structures (including movement time) can be quantified and are amenable to change with intervention. Study 5 reported a randomised controlled trial of the effects of lycra® arm splints on angular kinematics (thorax, shoulder and elbow) during functional tasks in children with cerebral palsy ... The benefits of the splint on angular kinematics were only apparent when worn for the 3 month period, as minimum evidence was established for the short-term (1hour) and long term (3 month post splint wear) carry-over effects.

Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a perceptual-motor development programme for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), as identified on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC). A pre- and post-test design was employed in the study and data were reported as case studies. The programme included a cognitive approach to perceptual-motor activities, with special attention to visual perception. The intervention programme was implemented over six consecutive weeks, with two 45-minute sessions each week. The motor proficiency of nine of the 12 children who participated in this study improved to the point where they were no longer classified as having DCD. The reasons for this improvement could be attributed to the regular practise provided by the perceptual-motor activities that were the content of the program and to the method of presentation, i.e. the cognitive strategies that were child-centred, which could have helped develop self-confidence in the children. These results are in agreement with the research of Schoemaker and Kalverboer (1994) that many children with DCD may learn to overcome or cope with their movement problems. The three children who performed most poorly on the M-ABC pre-test did not improve over the course of the intervention programme. A thorough examination of their perceptual-motor system could provide more information about the various factors that may contribute to their movement problems. It is also possible that the programme simply was not long enough for these children (they did not get enough practise) and/or they were not able to respond to the child-centred cognitive approach in such a short period of time.

In the realm of therapeutic horseback riding one becomes aware of the idiosyncratic way in which each unique individual depicts his or her experience of a therapeutic riding endeavor. This study focuses on the meanings attributed to therapeutic riding in the lives of children with cerebral palsy because the complementary use of horses in therapy with these children may be of great importance to the medical fraternity. This exploration investigated the influence of the children's relationship with a horse, and the parents' perception of horseriding as a complementary therapy to occupational- and physiotherapy. The theoretical background and a literature review on therapeutic horseback riding and cerebral palsy were presented in this study. This study followed a holistic, ecosystemic epistemology. Both a qualitative approach and a quantitative approach were adopted as two complementary sides of a more encompassing whole and provided rich descriptions of the context and research process. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

In the realm of therapeutic horseback riding one becomes aware of the idiosyncratic way in which each unique individual depicts his or her experience of a therapeutic riding endeavor. This study focuses on the meanings attributed to therapeutic riding in the lives of children with cerebral palsy because the complementary use of horses in therapy with these children may be of great importance to the medical fraternity. This exploration investigated the influence of the children's relationship with a horse, and the parents' perception of horseriding as a complementary therapy to occupational- and physiotherapy. The theoretical background and a literature review on therapeutic horseback riding and cerebral palsy were presented in this study. This study followed a holistic, ecosystemic epistemology. Both a qualitative approach and a quantitative approach were adopted as two complementary sides of a more encompassing whole and provided rich descriptions of the context and research process. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)