Individuals at risk of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have low levels of physical activity in childhood due to impaired motor competence, however physical activity levels in adulthood have not been established. This study sought to determine the impact of DCD risk on physical activity levels in adults using accelerometry measurement.

Participants (n=656) from the Arvo Ylppö Longitudinal Study cohort had their motor competence assessed at the age of five years, and their physical activity quantified via device assessment at the age of 25 years. Between group differences were assessed to differentiate physical activity measures for individuals based on DCD risk status, with general linear modelling performed to control for the effects of sex, body mass index (BMI), and maternal education.

Participants at risk of DCD were found to have a lower total number of steps (d=0.3, p=.022) than those not at risk. Statistical modelling indicated that DCD risk status increased time spent in sedentary light activity (β=0.1, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.3, p=.026) and decreased time spent in vigorous physical activity via interaction with BMI (β=0.04, 95% CI 0.001 to 0.1, p=.025). Sensitivity analysis found that visuomotor impairment did not significantly impact physical activity but did increase the role of DCD risk status in some models.

This 20-year-longitudinal study indicated that DCD risk status continues to negatively impact on levels of physical activity into early adulthood.