Author ORCID Identifier

0009-0004-7229-1326

Defense Date

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Health Related Sciences

First Advisor

Carole Ivey, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Virginia Chu, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Brooke Dexheimer, Ph.D.

Fourth Advisor

Ernie Steidle, Ph.D.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a novel technological measure of postural control in children with developmental motor coordination challenges (DMCC). Traditional methods used in occupational therapy to assess postural control often lack objectivity, rigor, specificity, and sensitivity. This study examined the test-retest reliability and discriminative ability of the Sway application in a group of children with DMCC and a typically developing (TD) control group. The study was conducted in a pediatric therapy clinic in Los Angeles using a non-experimental, cross-sectional design. Participants (N = 29; DMCC = 16; TD = 13; ages 5-9 years; 14 males, 15 females) were assigned to groups based on subtests from the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency–Second Edition. Postural sway was measured using the mobile phone integrated Sway application. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to estimate reliability, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tested group differences. Results indicated moderate test-retest reliability for the Sway application across combined and separate analyses. Significant group differences supported the discriminative validity of this measure. While moderate reliability limits its use for individual diagnostic decisions, findings align with prior evidence of poorer postural performance in children with DMCC compared to TD peers. This study contributes to occupational therapy by emphasizing the value of objective measurement of postural control among the pediatric population, and introduces a technologically-based assessment tool for quantifying postural control in children. The Sway application offers a cost-effective and accessible adjunct tool for identifying group differences and monitoring general performance trends in children with DMCC.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

12-8-2025

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