The characteristics of upper limb coordinated motion and relationship to dynamic balance for adolescents in special school for mentally retarded children

Abstract

【Purpose】This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of upper limb coordinated motions and relationship to dynamic balance for adolescents in special school for mentally retarded children. 【Methods】Participants were 30 adolescents with special school intellectual class and 29 healthy adolescents. We examined the walking test in a straight line, finger conflict, pronation and supination of the forearm and upper limb gross dexterity through box and block test. We analyzed the data by performing an unpaired t-test and Fisher's exact test. 【Results】Many adolescents with special school were unable to perform each motion, and their box and block test was significantly lower than that of healthy adolescents. Many of the adolescents who were unable to perform a motion were unable to perform other motions in the adolescents with special school. The BBT of the dominant hand was significantly lower in the adolescents with special school who failed the walking test in a straight line than those who didn’t failed. 【Conclusions】The adolescents with special school have decreased dynamic balance, finger conflict, pronation and supination of the forearm and upper limb gross dexterity in comparison with the healthy adolescents. Our results suggest that it is important to assess by combining upper limb coordinated motions and dynamic balance for understanding the characteristics of the adolescents with special school.