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Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

From: Interventions to improve gross motor performance in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: a meta-analysis

Inclusion criteria

 

Design

 Human intervention studies including randomized controlled trials, quasi randomized controlled trials and randomized cross-over trials.

Participants

 Aged between 3 to ≤ 18 years.

Conditions

 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) diagnoses determined using internationally recognised standardised diagnostic criteria.

 Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) determined using internationally recognised diagnostic criteria such as the DSM 4 or 5.

 Cerebral Palsy (CP) classified at Gross Motor Function Classification System Level I.

 Extremely preterm or extremely low birth weight children born at ≤ 30 weeks gestational age, < 1000 g with mild – moderate GM disorders.

 Acquired Minimal Brain Injury or mild Traumatic Brain Injury (Glasgow Coma Score ≥ 13).

 Developmental Delay determined using internationally recognised standardised diagnostic criteria defined by the DSM 4 or 5 in children ≤ 5 years age.

 Gross motor delay including children functioning at 1SD (16th centile) below the standardised population mean assessed by a standardised assessment tool.

Interventions

 Any home, community or school-based non-pharmacological, non-surgical intervention for children and adolescents involving a targeted therapy with stated clear intent to improve gross motor proficiency delivered by a trained health professional (e.g. Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist).

Comparator (s)/control

 No treatment, placebo, waiting list or usual therapy

Primary Outcomes

 GM performance measured with a standardised assessment tool.

Secondary Outcomes

 Compliance, parental satisfaction, child satisfaction and cost.

Exclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

 Studies not reporting a quantitative effect size including either a standard error (SE), standard deviation (SD) or confidence interval (CI).

 Studies including subjects with:

  Chromosomal disorders known to be associated with a motor deficit.

  Unadjusted hearing or visual impediments.

  Moderate to severe intellectual disability with IQ below 60

  Dystonia or hip dysplasia

 Studies reporting non-conservative rehabilitation interventions including surgery and pharmacological management (e.g. Botox therapy, dorsal rhizotomy).