The Effects of Yoga on Sensory, Motor, Cognitive Skills, and Perceived Stress in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder

NCT07547514 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024-52
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This clinical study aims to investigate the effects of yoga on children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). DCD is a condition that can make it difficult for children to perform everyday activities, as it affects their ability to plan movements, maintain balance, and coordinate their actions. Children with DCD may also experience challenges related to attention, perception, and coping with stress. The main purpose of this study is to examine whether a structured yoga program can improve children's sensory (how they perceive and process information from their environment), motor (movement and coordination), and cognitive (attention, planning, and problem-solving) skills, as well as reduce their perceived stress levels. Yoga is a holistic approach that includes breathing exercises, body awareness, balance activities, and relaxation techniques, which may support both physical and mental well-being. The hypothesis of the study is that children with DCD who participate in the yoga program will show greater improvements in sensory-motor and cognitive skills and experience lower levels of perceived stress compared to those who do not participate or who receive standard support. Regular yoga practice is expected to help children become more aware of their bodies, perform movements more effectively, and gain greater independence in daily activities. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the development of intervention programs for children with DCD and to provide evidence on whether yoga can be an effective complementary approach to support their overall development.

Conditions

Development Coordination Disorder; Motor Coordination or Function; Developmental Disorder; Sensory Integration Disorder; Perceived Stres Level; Cognitive Ability General

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test

  The Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test was used and to assess the gross and fine motor skills of children between the ages of 4 years 5 months and 14 years 5 months. This initial version of the test consisted of 8 subtests and 46 items. Later, in 2005, the test was revised, and the total version (46 items) was revised by removing 14 items and adding 21 items (53 items) to create the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test 2 (BOT-2), which is suitable for individuals aged 4-21 years. BOT-2 includes four motor domains: fine motor control, hand coordination, body coordination, strength, and agility, and a total of eight subtests related to these domains. The highest possible score on this 53-item test is 320. A short formula of 14 items was created for this test, and then in 2010, the number of items was reduced to 12 and revised. The highest possible score during the test is 72.

  at baseline (July 2024) and at 12 weeks (September 2024)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Structured Observations of Sensory Integration- Motor

  at baseline (July 2024) and at 12 weeks (September 2024)

• Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment-Children

  at baseline (July 2024) and at 12 weeks (September 2024)

• Perceived Stress Scale in Children

  at baseline (July 2024) and at 12 weeks (September 2024)

Study Arms (2)

Yoga Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive a structured yoga program designed for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. The program will include breathing exercises, body awareness activities, balance and coordination postures, and relaxation techniques. Sessions will be conducted by a trained professional, delivered in a consistent format, and adapted to the developmental needs of the children. The intervention aims to improve sensory processing, motor coordination, cognitive functions, and reduce perceived stress levels.

Other: Yoga intervention

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the control group will not receive any intervention following the initial assessment. They will be scheduled for a follow-up appointment, and post-intervention assessments will be conducted after 12 weeks. After the completion of the second assessment, the same yoga intervention applied to the intervention group will be offered to children in the control group to ensure they also benefit from the program.

Interventions

Yoga intervention OTHER

Participants assigned to the intervention group will receive a structured yoga program specifically designed for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. The intervention will be delivered over a period of 12 weeks, with one session per week, resulting in a total of 12 sessions. Each session will last approximately 40 minutes and will be conducted by a certified children's yoga instructor. The yoga sessions will be administered in small groups of five participants to ensure individualized attention and active participation. The intervention program is designed to target sensory processing, motor coordination, cognitive functions, and emotional regulation through a combination of physical, breathing, and mindfulness-based activities. Each session will consist of four structured components: Warm-up (5 minutes): This phase will include light physical activities such as running, jumping, stretching, and relaxation exercises. Breathing awareness exercises will also be introduced t

Yoga Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 7 Years - 11 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Being between 7 and 11 years of age
• Having a diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder according to DSM-5 criteria
• Attending school

You may not qualify if:

• Having any comorbid neurological, psychiatric, or orthopedic diagnosis
• Currently participating in an occupational therapy or physiotherapy program

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Fenerbahce University: lead
• Hacettepe University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Fenerbahçe University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Skills Disorders; Developmental Disabilities

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: assistant professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 7, 2026
• First Posted: April 23, 2026
• Study Start: June 29, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 29, 2025
• Study Completion: December 30, 2025
• Last Updated: April 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)