Motor coordination disorder is a neurological condition that affects an individual’s ability to coordinate physical movements. Children and adults with the disorder may suffer from difficulty performing daily tasks that require fine or large motor skills. There are a number of treatments that help affected individuals. Below, with Al Mousa Specialist Hospital, we review more details about motor coordination disorder. Read on.

What is motor coordination disorder? 

Motor coordination disorder is a neurological condition that affects the coordination of physical movements. Children and adults with the disorder may suffer from difficulty in performing daily tasks that require fine or large motor skills, such as walking, running, writing, and drawing. This disorder is considered one of the developmental disorders that appear in childhood, and its effect can continue until adulthood. Also, this disorder is not linked to any other different mental or neurological disability. It is linked to difficulty in organizing and executing movements easily.

Types of movement disorders

Movement disorders are a large group of neurological conditions that affect an individual's ability to control his movements. They can cause involuntary movements, difficulty moving, or both. There are a number of types of movement disorders, such as:

Tremor

It is an involuntary shaking movement that occurs in one part of the body or in more than one part. The tremor can be mild or severe, and it can appear during times of rest or during movement.

Parkinson's disease

It is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, and its symptoms include tremors, slow movement, muscle rigidity, and problems with balance.

Muscular dystonia

It is a disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions, and these contractions can also lead to movement in abnormal positions.

Restless legs syndrome

It is considered a condition that causes the desire to move the legs involuntarily, and this syndrome is often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations.

Tardive dyskinesia

It is a movement disorder caused by some medications that the patient takes, such as antipsychotics.

There are a number of different types, including chorea, which is a disorder that causes rapid and irregular involuntary movements, as well as involuntary spasms, which are represented by sudden and repetitive movements or sounds. In addition to these types, there are a number of other movement disorders, including motor seizures, Huntington’s disease, and Wilson’s disease. Movement disorders can have a major impact on an individual’s life, and thus affect his ability to perform social activities.

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Symptoms of motor coordination disorders

Symptoms of motor coordination disorder vary among individuals, and their severity varies from one person to another. Its symptoms include the following:

• Difficulty in fine motor tasks such as writing, drawing, using scissors, and other tasks that require fine skills.
• Difficulty in large motor tasks such as running, walking, jumping, riding a bike, and various other tasks that require general body movement.
• Difficulty in balance and coordination, as the affected person appears inconsistent in his movements, and may have difficulty maintaining his balance.
• Difficulty in learning new skills, as a person finds it difficult to learn new motor skills, and requires more time and effort than others.
• Delay in motor development, where the child is delayed in reaching normal motor development stages such as crawling, walking, and sitting.
• Difficulty in daily activities, as the individual faces difficulty in performing simple daily activities such as eating, bathing, and dressing.

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How to diagnose movement coordination disorder 

The diagnosis of motor coordination disorder depends on a number of factors, including the following:

• Observing the symptoms and movement difficulties that the patient suffers from.
• Gather all information about your medical history, including health problems or developmental delays.
• Conduct tests to evaluate motor skills, coordination and balance.
• تقييم قدرة الشخص على أداء المهام والأنشطة اليومية.

There is no single test that can definitively diagnose motor coordination disorder, but a set of tools and methods are used that evaluate motor skills, and to ensure that there are no other causes for these symptoms, and it is important for diagnosis by qualified specialists.

Treatment of movement disorders

Treatment of movement disorders depends largely on the type of disorder, its severity, and accompanying symptoms. Treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life. Treatment options also include the following:

• Medications that improve movement control and are used to treat certain symptoms such as tremors, muscle rigidity, and slowness of movement, including levodopa, anticholinergics, dopamine stimulants, and other medications, as well as medications to treat accompanying symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and sleep problems.
• Non-drug treatment, which includes Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and psychotherapy.
• Surgery, which includes deep brain stimulation by implanting a small device in the brain to send electrical impulses that help improve movement control, in addition to various other surgeries that are used in some cases to relieve symptoms, including surgery to relieve muscle stiffness in Parkinson's disease.

There are a number of different treatments that can be approved by a specialist doctor, including Botox injections, which are used to treat some types of movement disorders such as muscle dystonia and involuntary spasms, and complementary and alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, massage, meditation and yoga. A doctor must be consulted before using and applying these treatments.

اسئلة شائعة 

How does motor coordination disorder affect the brain?

Motor coordination disorder can greatly affect the brain. This condition is a neurological condition that affects an individual’s ability to plan and execute physical movements. It is believed that this disorder results from differences in brain development, especially in the areas responsible for coordination and motor planning. These areas include the cerebellum, which has a major role in controlling movement and balance, and the motor cortex, which is responsible for voluntary movements. Affected individuals also suffer from difficulty in processing sensory information and integrating it with motor commands, and thus difficulty in performing tasks that require coordination between the senses.

What part of the brain is responsible for motor coordination?

The cerebellum is the main part of the brain responsible for motor coordination. The cerebellum is located in the back of the brain. The cerebellum receives information from other parts of the brain, such as the motor cortex, and also receives information from the various senses, such as hearing, vision, and balance. The cerebellum uses that information to coordinate movements and make them easy and accurate. There are also other parts of the brain that play an important role in motor coordination, such as the brain stem and the basal ganglia, and these parts work to organize and control movements.

Is motor coordination disorder considered an intellectual disability?

No, DCD is not considered an intellectual disability. It is a neurological disorder that affects an individual’s ability to plan and execute physical movements. DCD does not affect a person’s intellectual or cognitive abilities, and children with this disease often suffer from difficulty performing tasks that require small or large motor skills. It should be noted that children with DCD have a normal IQ, but they face difficulties with movement and coordination, while those with intellectual disabilities suffer from a problem with the individual’s cognitive abilities, such as attention.

Through Al Mousa Specialist Hospital, you can book an appointment to diagnose and begin treatment with a group of the best doctors specialized in treating motor coordination disorder.

The article was reviewed by Dr. Shaima Bouhlaiqa, Neurology Consultant 

Medical references 

The Truth Behind Clumsy Child Syndrome – healthline

Developmental coordination disorder – pubmed