Functional Training and Dynamic Play Exercise on Gross Motor Skills, Physical Fitness, and Balance in Healthy Children

NCT07005440 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR & AHS/24/0732
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 38
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to explore and compare two distinct approaches to physical activity: functional training and dynamic play exercises, focusing on their effects on children's gross motor skills, physical fitness and balance. A randomized clinical trial will be conducted. The study will be conducted at Primary school of Lahore in a total duration of 10 months. Sample size will be 38. There will be two groups. Non-probability convenient sampling techniques will be used. The sample having the following characteristics will be included; Age 7-10 years, Both genders, Cognition MMSE score \> 25, Class grades 2-5 , BMI between 5th - 85th percentiles, Able to stand and walk independently, PBBS score \> 40, TGMD-2 \> 13, TUDS \> 10 secs. The population having the following characteristics will be excluded from the study; Pes Planus \& Pes cavus, Scoliosis, Genu valgum, Genu varum, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Presence of Asthma, Acute orthopedic problem and any history of surgery past 6 months, visual, vestibular, or balance disorders. The tools that will be included in this study are: Pediatrics balance scale, Test for gross motor development (TGMD-2) and Time up and downstairs test (TUDS). SPSS version 27 will be used for data analyses.

Conditions

Healthy Children

Keywords

Gross motor skills; Physical fitness; Functional training; Dynamic play exercises; Balance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Paediatric Balance Scale

  The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), adapted from the Berg Balance Scale, assesses balance in children through 14 items scored 0-4, with a maximum of 56. It shows excellent test-retest (ICC=0.998) and interrater reliability (ICC=0.997).

  Baseline, 12th week

• Test for Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2)

  The Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) assesses 12 fundamental movement skills-6 locomotor (e.g., running, hopping) and 6 object control (e.g., throwing, catching)-in children aged 3 to 10 years 11 months. It evaluates movement patterns essential for physical activity. The TGMD-2 shows good internal consistency (α = 0.73-0.87), strong inter-rater agreement (≥ 0.92), and high test-retest reliability (locomotor = 0.91, object control = 0.85).

  Baseline, 12th week

Study Arms (2)

Functional Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Group A will perform functional training. Each training session begins with a preparation phase, including warm-up (1-3 min), neuromuscular activation (1-3 min), dynamic stretching (1-3 min), and core muscle activation (1-3 min). The main training phase consists of two modules. The first module is devoted to motor skill development (10-15 mins), with an emphasis on walking, jumping, crawling, throwing, pushing, and catching. The second module focuses on physical fitness (7-10 mins), with an emphasis on balance, agility, and endurance. Each training session concludes with a phase of motor skill consolidation (1-3 min) and static stretching (1-3 min). This group will receive a total 12-week period with one training during 1-8 week and twice a week during 9- 12 weeks

Other: Functional Training; Other: Dynamic Play Exercise

Dynamic Play Exercise

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Group B will perform dynamic play exercises which includes warm-up (for 3-5 mins), rhythmic exercise (5-10 mins), games (7-10 mins) and free play exercises (10-15 mins). This group will receive the lesson once a week during week 1-8 and twice a week during 9-12 weeks

Other: Functional Training; Other: Dynamic Play Exercise

Interventions

Functional Training OTHER

Each training session includes a preparation phase (warm-up, neuromuscular activation, dynamic stretching, and core activation), followed by two main modules: motor skill development (walking, jumping, crawling, throwing, pushing, catching) and physical fitness (balance, agility, endurance). Sessions conclude with motor skill consolidation and static stretching. Training spans 12 weeks: once weekly during weeks 1-8, and twice weekly during weeks 9-12

Dynamic Play Exercise; Functional Training

Dynamic Play Exercise OTHER

This includes warm-up (for 3-5 mins), rhythmic exercise (5-10 mins), games (7-10 mins) and free play exercises (10-15 mins). This group will receive the lesson once a week during week 1-8 and twice a week during 9-12 weeks

Dynamic Play Exercise; Functional Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 7 Years - 10 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Age 7-10 years
• Both genders
• Cognition MMSE score \> 25
• Class grades 2-5
• BMI between 5th - 85th percentiles
• Able to stand and walk independently
• PBBS score \> 40
• TGMD-2 \> 13
• TUDS \> 10 secs

You may not qualify if:

• Pes Planus \& Pes cavus
• Scoliosis
• Genu valgum
• Genu varum
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
• Presence of Asthma
• Acute orthopedic problem and any history of surgery past 6 months
• Visual, vestibular, or balance disorders

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Riphah International University

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000, Pakistan

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Fu T, Zhang D, Wang W, Geng H, Lv Y, Shen R, Bu T. Functional Training Focused on Motor Development Enhances Gross Motor, Physical Fitness, and Sensory Integration in 5-6-Year-Old Healthy Chinese Children. Front Pediatr. 2022 Jul 11;10:936799. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.936799. eCollection 2022.

  PMID: 35899135 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Zainab Javed, MS-PPT

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

IMRAN AMJAD, PhD

CONTACT

+9233224390125; imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

Muhammad Asif Javed, MS-PT

CONTACT

+923224209422; a.javed@riphah.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: A Randomised clinical trial performed, in which 38 children with the age of 7-10 years will be taken randomly after screening and meeting inclusion criteria. Children will be divided in two groups. Group 1 will receive Functional training. This group will receive training a total of 12 week period with one training during 1-8 week and twice a week during 9-12 weeks. Group 2 will receive Dynamic play exercises. This group will receive the lesson once a week during week 1-8 and twice a week during 9-12 weeks. Pre values were taken at baseline and post value will be taken after 12th week of intervention to measure the effects of both therapies.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 17, 2025
• First Posted: June 5, 2025
• Study Start: April 16, 2025
• Primary Completion: July 7, 2025
• Study Completion: July 7, 2025
• Last Updated: June 5, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)