Effects of singular and dual task constraints on motor skill variability in childhood.
Simone V Gill, Zoe Yang, Ya-Ching Hung
PMID 28157572WHAT IT FOUND
Young children aged 4 to 6 varied more in finger rotation and in carrying a box while walking than older children.
Obstacle crossing did not show age differences. This describes motor variability in children without known conditions, not treatment effects.
Key findings
01Children aged 4 to 6 used more variable finger rotation strategies than children aged 10 to 13.
02Children aged 4 to 6 had more variable stride length, walking speed, box position, and elbow movement while carrying an empty box than older children.
03Obstacle crossing did not show age differences in variability of knee or ankle angles, stride length, or walking speed.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Only 24 children took part, and they were divided into three age groups, so the results may not apply to other children. The children had normal cognitive abilities and no known physical conditions, so the study does not show what happens in children with disability. Obstacle heights were fixed, and the authors note that higher obstacles could represent a greater challenge for younger children. The paper does not report a treatment comparison or clinical outcome, so it does not show that any intervention helps.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest and no commercial associations.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat the more variable walking or carrying in 4 to 6 year olds as a disorder. The study included 24 children with normal cognition and no physical conditions, and it did not test any treatment.