A review of studies using the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK)

Abstract

The Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) (Kiphard & Schilling, 1974, 2007) is a standardized, norm-referenced measure used by physical therapists and occupational therapists in clinic and school practice settings to evaluate the motor coordination (MC) of 5- to 14-year-old children. To find out for which research purposes the KTK has been used and its reliability and validity, we conducted a systematic review. Searching five databases, we found 46 studies used the KTK over four decades. The KTK was widely used in Europe in children with typical and atypical development. The KTK was used to investigate associations, to test the effects of interventions and treatments, to identify or diagnose different factors, to evaluate MC and it was included in reviews of motor assessments. The KTK was reported to be a reliable measure, although only nine studies examined its validity or reliability in target populations. The KTK was considered a non-sport/skill-specific, easy-to-administer, had a scoring system that enabled cross-study comparisons but was limited to balance and locomotor aspects, had norm values that were outdated, and needed careful standardization. The KTK's validity for different purposes requires further evaluation.