Abstract
The overarching purpose of this Thesis is to evaluate assessments and interventions for sensorimotor therapy according to the method Retraining for Balance. The purpose of the first study (Paper I) was to compile instruments based on the 46 diagnostic tools according to the method Retraining for Balance (RB) in order to be able to analyse previously collected data and thereby examine whether future studies would be of interest. Results showed that further studies were of interest and that RB could be a complement to existing treatment methods for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The aim of the second study (Paper II) was to gain increased understanding of the effects of sensorimotor therapy on the physical and psychological development of children and young people when using RB. As the qualitative analyses proceeded three themes emerged, (a) Introductions, (b) Regressions and (c) Transformations. The process involved in RB can thus be described as a flow in which Introductions, Regressions and Transformations jointly pushed the individual toward an increased physical and psychological maturity. The main purpose of study three (Paper III) was to investigate if a group of primary reflexes are to be found in adults showing symptoms of sensorimotor disorders, and, if so, is it possible to integrate these reflexes through sensorimotor therapy (SMT). Results showed that the same diagnostic instruments and treatment methods can be used for both children and adults with sensorimotor difficulties and that the difficulties can’t be out grown. The aims of study four (Paper IV) were to (a) compare healthy children in terms of sensorimotor maturity to untreated children diagnosed with DCD and (b) compare healthy children to diagnosed children following completed treatment with sensorimotor therapy. The results showed, in accordance with the first hypothesis of the study that the Norm group performed better on all sensorimotor tests as compared to the untreated children from the DCD group, with the exception of an audiometric test where both groups performed at the same level. Results also showed, after controls for natural maturing effects, that the participants from the DCD group, after sensorimotor therapy did catch up with the healthy children, which led to that the second hypothesis was rejected.
In Paper V, which was an invited Focused Review, our central theme was the importance of grounded assessments and interventions in regard to DCD. The paper had two aims, (a) to follow-up Paper III and (b) to fill a gap in literature regarding assessments and interventions of DCD. Our previous results had indicated that sensorimotor problems could be treated within all age groups through the method RB. It was therefore concluded that the importance of primary reflex suppression and vestibular stimulation as well as a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches have to be considered in order to develop effective methods for assessment and intervention of DCD. The method RB underlines not only the importance of gravity and its influence on the vestibular system but also the importance of parental (or spouse) guidance during training. Therefore a Brain Body World Interaction (BBWI) perspective including both a vertical connection (i.e., interactions between the person and gravity) and a horizontal connection (i.e., the person who socializes, learns and acts in the world) is proposed as a starting point for a new theoretical framework regarding DCD.