Local dynamic stability during treadmill walking can detect children with developmental coordination disorder.

Objective: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is an innate impairment of motor coordination that affects basic locomotion and balance. This study investigated local dynamic stability of trunk accelerations during treadmill walking as an objective evaluation of gait stability and the sensitivity and specificity of this measure to discriminate children with DCD from typically developing children.

Method: Eight children with DCD and ten age- and gender-matched typically developing children (TD) walked four minutes on a treadmill.

Impaired postural control in children with developmental coordination disorder is related to less efficient central as well as peripheral control.

Background: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental impairment that affects approximately 6% of children in primary school age. Children with DCD are characterized by impaired postural control. It has yet to be determined what effect peripheral and central neuromuscular control has on their balance control.

Body weight-supported training in Becker and limb girdle 2I muscular dystrophy.

Introduction: We studied the functional effects of combined strength and aerobic anti-gravity training in severely affected patients with Becker and Limb-Girdle muscular dystrophies.

Methods: Eight patients performed 10-week progressive combined strength (squats, calf raises, lunges) and aerobic (walk/run, jogging in place or high knee-lift) training 3 times/week in a lower-body positive pressure environment. Closed-kinetic-chain leg muscle strength, isometric knee strength, rate of force development (RFD), and reaction time were evaluated.

Anti-gravity training improves walking capacity and postural balance in patients with muscular dystrophy.

Recent studies in patients with muscular dystrophies suggest positive effects of aerobic and strength training. These studies focused training on using bicycle ergometers and conventional strength training, which precludes more severely affected patients from participating, because of their weakness. We investigated the functional effects of combined aerobic and strength training in patients with Becker and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies with knee muscle strength levels as low as 3% of normal strength.