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Static Postural Stability

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           DCD entails a number of different motor impairments which affect activities of daily living in a child (Willoughby et al., 1995). Individuals that suffer from this disorder may exhibit symptom impairments such as deficits in postural control, sensorimotor coordination and motor learning (Biotteau et al., 2019). The problems in postural control include hypotonia or hypertonia, immature distal control, as well as, poor static and dynamic balance (Biotteau et al., 2019).  The development of static balance is a basic characteristic of normal motor development, which is defined as the ability to maintain an upright posture and to keep the centre of gravity within the limits of support (Geuze., 2003). Most tests include a measure of static balance which is often poor in children suffering from DCD (Geuze., 2003).
        It is common to observe an improvement in the control of static balance in normal development. The ability of static balance shows clear improvements between the age of 2 and 14 years old, this is evident for standing on two feet and one foot (Geuze., 2003). These improvements are accompanied by improvements in the level of muscle activation efficacy and response to external mechanical perturbations (Geuze ., 2003). Children suffering from DCD have shown significantly more postural sway than matched controls when eyes are closed (Wann et al., 1998). Altered postural muscle activity can contribute to the poor proximal stability in children with DCD (Johnston et al., 2002). It has also been demonstrated in numerous literature that motor organization of reactive responses and anticipatory postural adjustments is dysfunctional in children with DCD (Grove et al., 2007). The main focus of this section will be on discussing the developmental delay in the control of static balance in individuals suffering from DCD. 
 

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