Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Hidden Epidemic of Falls
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| Title: | Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Hidden Epidemic of Falls |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Johnny V. V. Parr (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Motor Learning and Development. 2026 14(1). |
| Availability: | Human Kinetics, Inc. 1607 North Market Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Tel: 800-474-4457; Fax: 217-351-1549; e-mail: info@hkusa.com; Web site: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jmld/jmld-overview.xml |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 13 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Developmental Disabilities, Perceptual Motor Coordination, Adults, Parents, Children, Accidents, Injuries, Environmental Influences, Anxiety, Well Being, Participation, Mental Health, Social Life, Behavior Modification, Intervention |
| DOI: | 10.1123/jmld.2025-0043 |
| ISSN: | 2325-3193 2325-3215 |
| Abstract: | This study is the first to systematically investigate falls across the lifespan in Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Using a mixed-methods approach, we conducted an online survey co-developed with a Participant Involvement and Engagement group, assessing fall frequency, causes, injuries, fall-related anxiety, and psychosocial consequences. The survey was completed by adults with DCD (n = 115), parents of children with DCD (n = 99), typically developing (TD) adults (n = 81), and parents of TD children (n = 86). Falls were significantly more frequent in DCD, with 26% of DCD adults falling one to two times per month (vs. 3% TD) and 55% of children with DCD falling one to two times per week (vs. 23% TD). Falls were caused by a wide range of activities (e.g., walking), environmental obstacles (e.g., uneven surfaces, stairs), and cognitive factors (e.g., multitasking). Fall-related injuries--including fractures--were more prevalent in the DCD groups, alongside higher fall-anxiety, reduced social participation, and lower activity engagement. Overall, falls in DCD are frequent, injurious, anxiety-provoking, and detrimental to well-being. Despite this, DCD is absent from fall prevention guidelines. Urgent action is needed to integrate fall risk screening and targeted interventions into clinical and public health frameworks. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1508709 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: eric DbLabel: ERIC An: EJ1508709 AccessLevel: 3 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Hidden Epidemic of Falls – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Johnny+V%2E+V%2E+Parr%22">Johnny V. V. Parr</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3096-2601">0000-0002-3096-2601</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sam+Wood%22">Sam Wood</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1281-870X">0000-0003-1281-870X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Katherine+Maw%22">Katherine Maw</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3328-4930">0000-0002-3328-4930</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sally+Payne%22">Sally Payne</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0868-3064">0000-0003-0868-3064</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22David+J%2E+Wright%22">David J. Wright</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9568-0237">0000-0001-9568-0237</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Toby+Ellmers%22">Toby Ellmers</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9595-6360">0000-0001-9595-6360</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Richard+Mills%22">Richard Mills</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3249-7539">0000-0002-3249-7539</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ben+Marshall%22">Ben Marshall</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2557-5399">0000-0003-2557-5399</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Callum+Jarvis%22">Callum Jarvis</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7561-9068">0009-0000-7561-9068</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mohamed+Omar+Moham%22">Mohamed Omar Moham</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4812-469X">0000-0002-4812-469X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Greg+Wood%22">Greg Wood</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0851-7090">0000-0003-0851-7090</externalLink>) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Motor+Learning+and+Development%22"><i>Journal of Motor Learning and Development</i></searchLink>. 2026 14(1). – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: Human Kinetics, Inc. 1607 North Market Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Tel: 800-474-4457; Fax: 217-351-1549; e-mail: info@hkusa.com; Web site: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jmld/jmld-overview.xml – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: Y – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 13 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Developmental+Disabilities%22">Developmental Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Perceptual+Motor+Coordination%22">Perceptual Motor Coordination</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adults%22">Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parents%22">Parents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Accidents%22">Accidents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Injuries%22">Injuries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+Influences%22">Environmental Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety%22">Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Well+Being%22">Well Being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Participation%22">Participation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+Health%22">Mental Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Life%22">Social Life</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Behavior+Modification%22">Behavior Modification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intervention%22">Intervention</searchLink> – Name: DOI Label: DOI Group: ID Data: 10.1123/jmld.2025-0043 – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 2325-3193<br />2325-3215 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This study is the first to systematically investigate falls across the lifespan in Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Using a mixed-methods approach, we conducted an online survey co-developed with a Participant Involvement and Engagement group, assessing fall frequency, causes, injuries, fall-related anxiety, and psychosocial consequences. The survey was completed by adults with DCD (n = 115), parents of children with DCD (n = 99), typically developing (TD) adults (n = 81), and parents of TD children (n = 86). Falls were significantly more frequent in DCD, with 26% of DCD adults falling one to two times per month (vs. 3% TD) and 55% of children with DCD falling one to two times per week (vs. 23% TD). Falls were caused by a wide range of activities (e.g., walking), environmental obstacles (e.g., uneven surfaces, stairs), and cognitive factors (e.g., multitasking). Fall-related injuries--including fractures--were more prevalent in the DCD groups, alongside higher fall-anxiety, reduced social participation, and lower activity engagement. Overall, falls in DCD are frequent, injurious, anxiety-provoking, and detrimental to well-being. Despite this, DCD is absent from fall prevention guidelines. Urgent action is needed to integrate fall risk screening and targeted interventions into clinical and public health frameworks. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ1508709 |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1508709 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1123/jmld.2025-0043 Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 13 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Developmental Disabilities Type: general – SubjectFull: Perceptual Motor Coordination Type: general – SubjectFull: Adults Type: general – SubjectFull: Parents Type: general – SubjectFull: Children Type: general – SubjectFull: Accidents Type: general – SubjectFull: Injuries Type: general – SubjectFull: Environmental Influences Type: general – SubjectFull: Anxiety Type: general – SubjectFull: Well Being Type: general – SubjectFull: Participation Type: general – SubjectFull: Mental Health Type: general – SubjectFull: Social Life Type: general – SubjectFull: Behavior Modification Type: general – SubjectFull: Intervention Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Hidden Epidemic of Falls Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Johnny V. V. Parr – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Sam Wood – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Katherine Maw – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Sally Payne – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: David J. Wright – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Toby Ellmers – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Richard Mills – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ben Marshall – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Callum Jarvis – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mohamed Omar Moham – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Greg Wood IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 2325-3193 – Type: issn-electronic Value: 2325-3215 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 14 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Motor Learning and Development Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
