Exercise and Physical Fitness in Children With Specific Learning Disabilities

NCT07230093 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-SBB-0230
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 18
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Specific learning disabilities (SLD) are characterized by difficulties in reading, comprehension, arithmetic, and written expression, often accompanied by impairments in motor skills, balance, and coordination. However, physical difficulties in children with SLD are often overlooked in educational settings, and parental awareness of these issues remains limited. This study aims to examine the effect of an 8-week combined exercise program-including balance, strength, and stretching exercises-on the physical fitness of children aged 7-14 years with SLD. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a control group. The exercise intervention will be conducted three times per week for 45 minutes per session over eight weeks. Physical fitness will be evaluated through standardized field-based measures of balance, strength, flexibility, and endurance before and after the intervention. Data will be analyzed using SPSS 26.0, employing Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney U, independent t-test, and paired t-test as appropriate. The study is expected to emphasize the importance of physical activity for children with SLD and promote the inclusion of physiotherapy-based exercise programs in individualized support plans. Primary Outcome Question: Does an 8-week combined exercise program improve balance, strength, flexibility, and endurance-key components of physical fitness-in children with specific learning disabilities compared to a control group?

Conditions

Learning Disabilities

Keywords

Learning Disability; Physical Fitness; Combined Exercise; Children; Exercise Intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (9)

• Balance Performance (Flamingo Balance Test)

  Description: Static balance will be assessed using the Flamingo Balance Test from the Eurofit Test Battery. Participants will stand on one leg on a narrow beam, and the number of falls within 1 minute will be recorded. Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks Unit of Measure: Number of falls (count) Interpretation: Lower scores indicate better balance.

  Pre- and post-intervention (8 weeks)

• Coordination Speed (Plate Tapping Test)

  Description: Coordination and movement speed will be assessed using the Plate Tapping Test from the Eurofit Test Battery. The time required to complete 25 cycles of alternating taps will be recorded. Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks Unit of Measure: Seconds Interpretation: Lower scores indicate better performance.

  Before and after intervention (8 weeks)

• Flexibility (Sit-and-Reach Test)

  Description: Flexibility will be measured using the Sit and Reach Test, which assesses hamstring and lower back flexibility. Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks Unit of Measure: Centimeters Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater flexibility.

  Before and after intervention (8 weeks)

• Abdominal Muscle Endurance (Sit-Ups Test)

  Description: Abdominal muscle endurance will be assessed using the Sit-Ups Test, recording the number of repetitions completed in 30 seconds. Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks Unit of Measure: Number of sit-ups (count) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate better endurance.

  Before and after intervention (8 weeks)

• Lower Limb Power (Standing Long Jump Test)

  Description: Explosive leg power will be evaluated using the Standing Long Jump Test. The best distance achieved in three trials will be recorded. Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks Unit of Measure: Centimeters Interpretation: Higher scores indicate better performance.

  Before and after intervention (8 weeks)

• Cardiorespiratory Endurance (20 m Shuttle Run Test)

  Description: Aerobic endurance will be assessed using the 20-meter Shuttle Run Test (Eurofit). The number of completed stages will be recorded. Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks Unit of Measure: Number of completed stages Interpretation: Higher scores indicate better endurance.

  Before and after intervention (8 weeks)

• Age

  Measurement: Years Description: Chronological age of the participant will be recorded. Time Frame: Baseline (Pre-intervention)

  Baseline (Pre-intervention)

• Sex

  Measurement: Male / Female (categorical variable) Description: Biological sex will be recorded to explore potential differences in physical fitness outcomes. Time Frame: Baseline (Pre-intervention)

  Baseline (Pre-intervention)

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

  Measurement: kg/m² Description: BMI will be calculated using measured body weight and height (BMI = weight \[kg\] / height² \[m²\]). It will be used as a descriptive and covariate variable in analysis. Interpretation: Higher or lower BMI values will be examined in relation to physical fitness outcomes. Time Frame: Baseline (Pre-intervention)

  Baseline (Pre-intervention)

Study Arms (2)

Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive a combined exercise program for 8 weeks, 3 days per week, 45 minutes per session. Physical fitness parameters-including flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, balance, coordination, speed, and agility-are assessed before and after the intervention.

Behavioral: Combined Exercise Program

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants do not receive any intervention. Physical fitness parameters-including flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, balance, coordination, speed, and agility-are assessed at the same time points as the exercise group.

Interventions

Combined Exercise Program BEHAVIORAL

Participants perform a combined exercise program for 8 weeks, 3 days per week, 45 minutes per session. Physical fitness parameters-including flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, balance, coordination, speed, and agility-are assessed before and after the intervention. This program aims to improve gross and fine motor skills, balance, coordination, and overall physical fitness in children with specific learning difficulties.

Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 7 Years - 14 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Exercise Group: Children aged 7-14 years diagnosed with Specific Learning Difficulty (SLD), with signed parental consent and child assent form
• Control Group: Children aged 7-14 years without SLD (healthy), with signed parental consent and child assent form

You may not qualify if:

• Children with physical disabilities preventing participation
• Children unable to cooperate with the assessments

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bartın Unıversity: lead

Study Sites (1)

Bartın University, Vocational School of Health Services

Bartın, Bartın, 74100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Learning Disabilities

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Communication Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Meryem Sevim, PhD

CONTACT

+905536104510; fzt.meryemsevim@outlook.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: No masking is applied in this study; participants, caregivers, and investigators are aware of group assignments.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PT, PhD, Lecturer, Department of Physiotherapy

Model Details: Participants are assigned to one of two groups: the exercise group receives a combined exercise program for 8 weeks, 3 days per week, 45 minutes per session. The control group does not receive any intervention. Assessments of physical fitness parameters-including flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, balance, coordination, speed, and agility-are performed before and after the intervention to evaluate changes.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 27, 2025
• First Posted: November 17, 2025
• Study Start: November 25, 2025
• Primary Completion: January 30, 2026
• Study Completion: February 15, 2026
• Last Updated: November 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)