Dual-tasking Effect on Gait in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder

NCT06400043 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: ONZ-2023-0650
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 23
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The aim of the study is to collect data in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) aged between 7 and 17 years for analyses of the gait pattern while walking at the Gait Real-time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL) at the university hospital of Ghent. Children with DCD will be asked to take a motor test (M-ABC-2) as well as walk on the treadmill during a single session of approximately 3 hours. The following data will be collected on the GRAIL while subjects walk at different gait speeds: 3D kinematics, kinetics, and EMG. Additionally, 3D kinematics, kinetics, and EMG data will be collected when performing either a cognitive (Stroop Color and Word Test) or motor (requiring arm swing) dual-task while walking at comfortable walking speed..

Conditions

Gait

Keywords

Gait analysis; Dual-tasking; EMG; Kinematics; Kinetics; Selective motor control; Developmental Coordination Disorder; DCD

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Kinematics

  3D kinematics of lower and upper limb joints while walking (degrees)

  Single point assessment, day 1

• Kinetics

  3D kinetics of lower limb joints while walking (Nm)

  Single point assessment, day 1

• EMG

  Muscle activity of 16 lower limb muscles (microvolts)

  Single point assessment, day 1

• Muscle synergies

  Synergy analysis will be conducted using the EMG data (variance accounted for -VAF)

  Single point assessment, day 1

• Spatiotemporal parameters

  Spatial parameters (m), temporal parameters (s), walking velocity (m/s)

  Single point assessment, day 1

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Gait deviation index

  Single point assessment, day 1

• Game result (cognitive task)

  Single point assessment, day 1

• Game result (motor task)

  Single point assessment, day 1

Other Outcomes (5)

• Demographic data

  Single point baseline assessment

• Anthropometric data (height)

  Single point baseline assessment

• Anthropometric data (weight)

  Single point baseline assessment

Study Arms (1)

Treadmill walking

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will be asked to walk at different gait velocities for 1 minute. The treadmill speed will be increased incrementally at 0.1m/s intervals until just before running. The comfortable walking speed will be determined.

Other: Cognitive dual-task; Other: Motor dual-task

Interventions

Cognitive dual-task OTHER

Participants will be asked to walk at comfortable walking speed while playing an additional cognitive task, namely the Stroop Color and Word Test.

Treadmill walking

Motor dual-task OTHER

Participants will be asked to walk at comfortable walking speed while playing an additional motor task, namely a game that requires arm swing to hit the targets.

Treadmill walking

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 7 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• They have an official DCD diagnosis;
• Are aged between 7 and 17 years old;
• Can walk at least 15 minutes consecutively;
• Have good or corrected vision.

You may not qualify if:

• They suffer from a neurological disorder;
• Take medications that affect gait and balance;
• Have undergone surgical procedures on the lower limbs in the past;
• Experience pain in their lower limbs or back at the time of testing.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Ghent: lead
• University Hospital, Ghent: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Ghent University

Ghent, East-Flanders, 9000, Belgium

RECRUITING

Ghent University

Ghent, 9000, Belgium

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Skills Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Lynn Bar-On

  University Ghent

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Michelle Verhoeven

CONTACT

+32 9 332 46 57; michelle.verhoeven@ugent.be

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 1, 2024
• First Posted: May 6, 2024
• Study Start: July 12, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Last Updated: March 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BE (2)