Taekwondo training improves sensory organization and balance control in children with developmental coordination disorder: A randomized controlled trial

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) have poorer postural control and are more susceptible to falls and injuries than their healthy counterparts. Sports training may improve sensory organization and balance ability in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of three months of Taekwondo (TKD) training on the sensory organization and standing balance of children with DCD. It is a randomized controlled trial. Forty-four children with DCD (mean age: 7.6 ± 1.3 years) and 18 typically developing children (mean age: 7.2 ± 1.0 years) participated in the study. Twenty-one children with DCD were randomly selected to undergo daily TKD training for three months (1 h per day). Twenty-three children with DCD and 18 typically developing children received no training as controls. Sensory organization and standing balance were evaluated using a sensory organization test (SOT) and unilateral stance test (UST), respectively. Repeated measures MANCOVA showed a significant group by time interaction effect. Post hoc analysis demonstrated that improvements in the vestibular ratio (p = 0.003) and UST sway velocity (p = 0.007) were significantly greater in the DCD-TKD group than in the DCD-control group. There was no significant difference in the average vestibular ratio or UST sway velocity between the DCD-TKD and normal-control group after three months of TKD training (p > 0.05). No change was found in the somatosensory ratio after TKD training (p > 0.05). Significant improvements in visual ratios, vestibular ratios, SOT composite scores and UST sway velocities were also observed in the DCD-TKD group after training (p ≤ 0.01). Three months of daily TKD training can improve sensory organization and standing balance for children with DCD. Clinicians can suggest TKD as a therapeutic leisure activity for this population.

► Children with developmental coordination disorder demonstrate deficits in sensory organization and balance control.
► Three months of daily Taekwondo training can improve visual and vestibular sensory organization, and standing balance control for children with developmental coordination disorder.
► Clinicians can suggest Taekwondo as a therapeutic leisure activity for children with developmental coordination disorder.