Comparison the gross motor skills development in healthy children and with thalassemia major

The purpose of this study was to compare the development of gross motor skills in tow subtests of locomotion skills and object control skills in and healthy children with thalassemia major. The participants in this study were 28 children with a mean age of 9.07 ± 0.813 years. 14 healthy children and 14 thalassemia major that were studying in primary schools. Test of Gross Motor Development (2000) was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using independent t -test. The results showed there is a significant difference in both locomotion scores (P=0.001) and object control scores (P=0.001) between healthy and thalassemia major groups. The thalassemic children in both gross motor functions had lower quality than healthy children. So considering that the fundamental motor skills establish a framework for future movements and motor behavior and Thalassemic children compared to their peers are in the lower level, need to plan for the improvement of these skills is important.