Children required to take part in a UQ physiotherapy study

Children with coordination difficulties affecting their abilities to play sports, write, catch balls or balance are needed for physiotherapy research.

Researcher Leanne Johnston said children were needed for a trial to investigate the relationship between motor skills and underlying postural muscle function in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder.

“The University’s Department of Physiotherapy is conducting research to investigate the underlying contributors to motor coordination in children,” she said.

As part of the study The University of Queensland is looking for children aged nine or 10 with or without coordination difficulties.

The study will look at whether difficulties being experienced with coordination are related to underlying problems with muscle and postural control and whether these difficulties are measurably the same over a time period of eight weeks.

She said the children would be asked to participate in motor development and balance assessments using the Department of Physiotherapy Paediatric Research Unit’s computerised equipment.

Ms Johnston said children would be required to attend the University on two separate occasions to participate in the study.

“There will be no cost to families and the results of the developmental assessment will be available to parents. “As children without coordination difficulties are also needed, we would welcome children coming in pairs, if they have a friend, or brother or sister who is also nine or 10 who would like to participate,” she said.

For more information, contact Leanne Johnston telephone 07 3346 9139 or 0419 706 949, email: l.johnston@shrs.uq.edu.au or UQ Communications telephone 07 3365 3367, email: communications@uq.edu.au.