Effects of Exercise Combined With Cognitive Training on Motor Performance in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder

Shanghai University of Sport20 enrolled

Overview

Background: Developmental Coordination Disorder(DCD) is a common neuro-developmental disorder in childhood, characterized by deficits in motor coordination. This study aimed to examine the effects of exercise combined with cognitive training versus exercise-only training on balance-postural control, gross motor skills and physical fitness in children with DCD. Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. Twenty children aged 7-11 years diagnosed with DCD were randomly allocated into experimental group(n=10) receiving 10-week combined exercise-cognitive training and control group(n=10) receiving exercise-only training. Training was implemented 3 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session for 10 weeks. Outcome assessments were performed at baseline, week-6 and week-10. Motor performance indicators included Y-balance test, eyes-closed single-leg stand, BOT-2 gross-motor sub-scale and national student physical fitness tests.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

Interventions

Participants received 10-week training, 3 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session. Each session contained 30-minute fundamental motor-skill exercise (running, jumping, kicking, throwing, catching), plus 30-minute cognitive training consisting of action observation, motor-imagery guided tasks with picture/video prompts. Training difficulty was progressively divided into basic phase(1-3w), advanced phase(4-6w), and integration phase(7-10w).

Exercise-only trainingBEHAVIORAL

Participants received identical 30-minute fundamental motor-skill physical exercise same as experimental group each session. Instead of cognitive training, children performed matched quiet non-cognitive rest activity for another 30 minutes, to equalize total trainer-contact time. The whole intervention lasted 10 weeks, three sessions weekly, 60 minutes each session.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 7 YearsMax age: 11 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Children aged between 7-11 years old. 2. Satisfied screening criteria for Developmental Coordination Disorder: MABC-2 total percentile ≤16 or sub-item percentile ≤5; meet age-cut-off score of DCD-Q questionnaire. 3. Caregiver reported motor difficulties have presented from early developmental stage. 4. Participants are capable of completing all training and assessment procedures. 5. Written informed consent provided by legal guardians. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD or other neurodevelopmental disorders. 2. Severe organic disease that contraindicates physical exercise. 3. Receiving concurrent physical therapy or occupational therapy targeting motor coordination during study period.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Gross Motor Skills Assessed by the BOT-2

The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2) evaluates gross motor skills, including balance, bilateral coordination, and running speed. The Total Motor Composite standard score will be reported. The standard score ranges from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 80. Higher scores indicate better gross motor proficiency and coordination.

Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).

Change in Dynamic Postural Control Assessed by the Y-Balance

Measures maximum controlled reach distance in three directions while maintaining a single-leg stance.

Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention (10 weeks).

Change in Static Postural Control Assessed by the Single-Leg Stance Test with Eyes Closed

Participants stand on one leg with their eyes closed. The duration (in seconds) they can successfully maintain balance is recorded to evaluate static postural control and proprioceptive integration capacity.