Low Motor Competence or Developmental Coordination Disorder? An Overview and Framework to Understand Motor Difficulties in Children

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a condition defined by poor motor proficiency in children in the absence of neurological conditions or other diseases. This review provides an overview of low motor competence (LMC) and DCD in children and a framework to understand the differences and similarities between LMC and DCD.

While the prevalence of DCD is fairly high (up to 5–6% of school-age children), research in the last few decades has documented a significant level of low motor competence (LMC) in the school-age children (~ 30–77%). These numbers represent an epidemic of poor motor skills that need proper assessment, intervention, and sometimes a referral for an investigation of a potential DCD diagnosis.

Low motor competence is typically established after a one-time measurement of motor skills using a standardized assessment. DCD, on the other hand, is a chronic condition—that is, it persists from childhood, through adolescence, and into adulthood.