Aim: 

Walking training in subjects with developmental coordination disorders (DCD) has pivotal role in every rehabilitation programme. It has been already shown (1) the benefice of strength training on general health in subjects with neurological motor disease. Our objective is to assess physiological outcomes of walking training in subjects with developmental coordination disorders

Methods: 

Eight subjects with DCD divided in 2 groups of four, were trained 3 times per week, 30 minutes each session, during 6 weeks. First group was trained on walking exercises, second group (control), continued parallel rehabilitative daily activities (balneotherapy, mobilizations, motor control rehabilitation and movement exercises). Before and after training period, in both groups, we tested the distance walked and we checked some physiological data: heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and oxygen saturation (OS). We used the certified (2) six minutes walking test (6MWT) and six minutes walk distance (6MWD). Setting was EEAP Department of Neurorehabilitation, Paediatric Hospital Lenval in Nice (France).

Results: 

We noticed that after six weeks of walking training subjects with DCD shown evident improvement of some physiological parameters (HR, BP, OS) during effort and at rest. We relieved, besides, increasing of distance walking during 6MWT (+ 33%).Control group did not show any improvements of physiological capacity and walking distance.

Conclusions: 

There are several modalities available for the objective evaluationof functional exercise capacity (3).We investigated on efficiency of physiological capacity of subject with DCD. Our results might be correlated to the automatism of walking performance improved by training (underlined with HR,BP,OS positive results). Or they might be interpreted as real growth of physiological capacity. Further studies have to be completed.

Bibliography: 

1.Damiano Diane L., Abel Mark F. Functional outcomes of strength training in spastic cerebral palsy. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Vol: 79, Issue: 2, February, 1998. pp. 119–125

2. Enright P. The Six-Minute Walk Test. Respiratory Care. August. 2003 Vol. 48 N. 8

3. Crapo R.. ATS Statement Guidelines for the Six-Minute Walk Test. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 166. pp. 111–117, (2002) 2002 American Thoracic Society