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

NCT07813052 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: SUS-2026-DCD-001
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

Keywords

Developmental Coordination Disorder; children; combined motor-cognitive training; dynamic balance; motor skills; motor function

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (9)

• 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.

  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.

  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.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks

• Change in Lower Limb Coordination Assessed by the Side Hop Test

  Participants perform continuous lateral jumps back and forth over a set distance within a limited time. The total number of successful jumps is recorded to reflect lower limb coordination and rapid posture adjustment ability.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks

• Change in Sprinting Speed Assessed by the 50-Meter Dash

  The time taken (in seconds) to complete a 50-meter sprint is recorded to evaluate physical speed and acceleration capabilities.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks

• Change in Coordination and Cardiopulmonary Endurance Assessed by the 1-Minute Jump Rope Test

  The number of valid jumps completed within one minute is recorded to reflect whole-body coordination and cardiopulmonary endurance levels.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks

• Change in Lower Limb Explosive Power Assessed by the Standing Long Jump

  The maximum valid horizontal jump distance (in centimeters) is recorded to evaluate the explosive power of the lower limbs.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks

• Change in Core Muscle Endurance Assessed by the 1-Minute Sit-Up Test

  The number of correctly performed sit-ups completed in one minute is recorded to evaluate trunk and core muscle endurance.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks

• Change in Flexibility Assessed by the Sit-and-Reach Test

  The maximum forward reach distance (in centimeters) is recorded to evaluate the flexibility of the lower back and hamstring muscles.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks

Study Arms (2)

Combined motor-cognitive training group

EXPERIMENTAL

Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder received combined motor-cognitive training. Each session integrated physical exercise and cognitive tasks to improve motor performance

Behavioral: Combined exercise-cognitive training

Exercise-only training control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

children received general physical-activity training with the same frequency, duration and intensity as the experimental group, without additional cognitive tasks.

Behavioral: Exercise-only training

Interventions

Exercise-only training BEHAVIORAL

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.

Exercise-only training control group

Combined exercise-cognitive training BEHAVIORAL

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).

Combined motor-cognitive training group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Children aged between 7-11 years old.
• 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.
• Caregiver reported motor difficulties have presented from early developmental stage.
• Participants are capable of completing all training and assessment procedures.
• Written informed consent provided by legal guardians.

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD or other neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Severe organic disease that contraindicates physical exercise.
• Receiving concurrent physical therapy or occupational therapy targeting motor coordination during study period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Shanghai University of Sport: lead

Study Sites (1)

Shanghai University of Sport

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200438, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Skills Disorders

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: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 26, 2026
• First Posted: September 10, 2026
• Study Start: October 14, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2025
• Study Completion: June 30, 2025
• Last Updated: September 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)