This study focuses on the effects of physical activity in schools on the cognitive function and physical fitness of children with and without developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Methods: 58 children with DCD participated in an 8-week exercise program. Children's standing broad jump (SBJ), 50m dash, 50m\*8 shuttle run, mental rotation and executive functions were assessed before and after training. A mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted separately for each performance variable.
Potential children were identified from elementary schools in three districts of Shanghai. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Uni-versity of Medicine and Health Sciences. In order to select the research sample, recruitment letters were sent to the parents of all children; these letters detailed the purpose, significance and research process of the study, and a consent form was attached. If parents were willing to participate in the study, they were asked to sign the consent form and scan the QR code to fill in the questionnaire, including DCDQ, the Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Rating Scale-VI and other personal information. All questionnaire contents were only accessible to research team members, and the researcher's name and telephone number were provided in case parents had questions. A total of 2,761 children and their parents volunteered to participate in this study. Children were screed using the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) . Teachers selected those children with probable DCD but without any intellectual or cognitive impairment. These children were then tested using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd edition. Finally, 116 pDCD children were randomly divided into a training group (TG, mean age 10.67 ± 1.25 years, 50 boys and 8 girls) and a control group (CG, mean age 10.27 ± 1.04 years, 48 boys and 10 girls) and gender matched typically developing (TD, mean age 10.35 ± 1.87 years; 48 boys and 12 girls) controls were included in the study. TG and TD will receive an additional 8 weeks of physical training intervention, while CG will not participate in the physical training intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
200
All children received a series of 90-minute sessions 3 times a week for 8 weeks of after-school physical training. Each session began with a warm-up (20 min), three or four tasks related to the skill to be developed (aerobic training, resistance training, other activities designed to improve motor skills and balance, stretching and flexibility activities and core strength and posture exercises; 60 min) and a cool-down (10 min). Children were divided into six groups, with the number of children in each group ranging from eight to twelve.
Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Shanghai, Pudong, China
Reaction time (RT) of mental rotation tasks
The experiment involved simultaneously presenting children with two pictures of "giraffes". The image on the left was fixed as the target, and the image on the right showed angle or mirror differences. The angular disparities were 0°, 60°, 120° or 180°. Through rotation, the children were asked to determine, as quickly and accurately as possible, whether the two images were identical.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Reaction time (RT) of modified Stroop task
The computerized modified Stroop task includes the following two conditions: a naming (non-execution) and execution condition. In the naming condition, the screen will display a colored "XXX" and the children need to press the key corresponding to the color. In the execution condition, the stimulus will show a distracting-colored word, similar to the classic Stroop, showing Chinese characters in either blue or red; in this test, the children need to press the key corresponding to the color of the word, rather than the meaning of the Chinese character. When the color of the word is consistent with its meaning, the condition is congruent; when the color of the word is inconsistent with its meaning, it is the condition is incongruent.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Standing broad jump
The SBJ test, which is completed on a flat surface, is used to evaluate the explosive strength of the lower limbs.
Time frame: 8 weeks
50m sprint
The 50m sprint test requires students to start in a standing position and complete a 50m sprint with all their strength. The test is conducted twice, and the fastest result is recorded.
Time frame: 8 weeks
50m*8 shuttle run
children are required to run back and forth between two points as quickly as possible.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Safety and Tolerability
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
There were no safety and adverse events
Time frame: 8 weeks
Height
Height was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm (Shanghe SH-200G, China)
Time frame: 8 weeks
Weight
weight was measured to the nearest 0.1 kg using a portable stadiometer (Shanghe SH-200G, China).
Time frame: 8 weeks