Children with developmental coordination disorder exhibit altered cardiac autonomic control at rest and during exercise

• Cardiac autonomic control in children with DCD is altered. • Children with DCD exhibit higher sympathetic modulation compared to controls. • Children with DCD exhibit reduced parasympathetic modulation compared to controls. • This study reinforces the evidence of impaired autonomic control in children with DCD. To analyze the cardiac autonomic control at rest, during, and after aerobic activity and assess the physical activity and performance of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), and Typically Developing children (TD) in the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Forty-seven children participated in this case-control study, 21 with DCD. Cardiac autonomic control was assessed using heart rate variability using the Polar® V800 at rest in supine orthostatic postures, during the 6MWT, and during recovery seated in a chair. Physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children. Children with DCD presented significant alterations in cardiac autonomic control during orthostatic (increased LFnu, p = 0.016; decreased HFnu, p = 0.016) and exercise (decreased Δ2LFnu, p = 0.002; and increased Δ2HFnu, p = 0.002) compared with children with TD. However, no significant differences in distance covered on the 6MWT or physical activity were observed. Children with DCD presented impaired cardiac autonomic control at rest and during the orthostatic rest stimulus before the 6MWT.