The Effect of Perceptual-Motor Exercise and Virtual Reality-Based Exercise on Motor Skills, Balance, Proprioception and Participation in Children With Specific Learning Disabilities: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Motor Skill Level

时间窗: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 8 weeks (post-exercise)

The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition - Brief Form (BOT-2 BF) will be used to assess children's motor proficiency skill levels. The test duration is approximately 15-20 minutes. The subtests and items of the BOT 2-BF are (1) Fine Motor Precision: Completing the inside of a star and drawing a line along a path; (2) Fine Motor Integration: Copying interlocking circles and a diamond shape; (3) Manuel Dexterity: Threading blocks onto a string; (4) Bilateral Coordination: Touching the tip of the nose with the index finger (eyes closed) and drawing a square with the thumb and index finger; (5) Balance: Walking on a line from heel to toe; (6) Speed and Agility: Hopping on one foot; (7) Upper-Limb Coordination: Catching a thrown ball (with one hand) and dribbling; and (8) Strength: Full push-ups and knee push-ups. For each task, item scores are converted into processed scores using the Likert scale for that task. The Likert score values differ for each task.

Functional Balance

时间窗: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 8 weeks (post-exercise)

Children's functional balance assessment will be evaluated using the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS). The PBS was developed as a balance measurement for school-aged children with mild to moderate motor impairment by modifying the Berg Balance Scale. No special equipment is required for the test. The test takes less than 20 minutes to complete. The scale consists of 14 items, including sitting balance, standing balance, transfers (rising from sitting and standing), stepping, reaching forward and downward, turning, and stepping onto and off a raised surface. Each item is rated on a scale of 0 to 4. A score of 0 indicates inability to perform the task, while a score of 4 indicates the ability to perform the task without any difficulty. The maximum total score is 56. The Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted by Erden et al..

Single-Leg Stance Test

时间窗: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 8 weeks (post-exercise)

The Single-Leg Stance Test assesses static balance. For the Single-Leg Stance Test, children will be instructed to maintain balance on their non-dominant leg with their eyes open. During this time, the other leg will be held with the knee at 90° flexion and the hip at 0° flexion. The time elapsed before the opposite foot touches the ground or until the test position is broken will be measured in seconds using a stopwatch. This test will be performed twice, and the highest score will be recorded.

Flamingo Balance Test

时间窗: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 8 weeks (post-exercise)

This test will be used to assess static balance. A 50 cm long, 4 cm high, and 3 cm wide wooden beam and a stopwatch will be used when performing the flamingo balance test. Children will be asked to stand upright in the middle of the long line, with one foot on the ground and the other knee bent, holding the free foot with the same hand, for 1 minute after removing their shoes. A trial run will be conducted before the test so that children can understand the test. The child will be helped into position on the wooden beam, and the test will begin with the command "start" when the child is ready. If balance is lost, in other words, if the foot touches the ground, the time will be stopped, the child will return to the test position, and the stopwatch will resume from where it left off. The child will receive points for each attempt made during the 1 minute. If balance is lost more than 15 times within 30 seconds during the test, or if the child falls, the test will be stopped.

Timed Up and Go Test

时间窗: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 8 weeks (post-exercise)

The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) evaluates functional mobility and the balance required to transition from a sitting position to a standing position, walk, turn, and return to a sitting position. First, the test will be demonstrated to the participants, and then they will be given one trial run to understand it. Three trials are recommended for each TUG assessment. For the single-task, children will be instructed to stand up from a standard armless chair, walk 3 meters in a straight line at their normal comfortable pace, turn 180°, return to the chair, and sit down. For the dual motor task, participants will perform the modified TUG test while holding an empty tray with both hands. For the dual cognitive task, children will perform the modified TUG test while verbally counting backward from a given number in increments of 1. Children will be instructed to focus on the backward counting task as quickly and accurately as possible. The result is recorded in seconds.

Four Square Step Test

时间窗: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 8 weeks (post-exercise)

This test evaluates dynamic balance. For the test, Four canes, each 90 cm in length, will be placed on the ground at a 90° angle to form a plus sign ("+") configuration. A four-square area will be created around the "+" sign, and the squares will be numbered from 1 to 4. A trial run will be conducted to ensure that the children understand the task. To administer the test, each child will stand inside square 1, facing square 2. The child will then be asked to step clockwise into the squares in the order "2, 3, 4, 1" (forward, right, back, and finally left), and then counterclockwise in the order "4, 3, 2, 1". Time measurement will start when the first foot touches the first square. The child will continue to look forward as much as possible throughout the sequence, and both feet must touch the square before moving on to the next square. The completion time of the test will be recorded in seconds. Two trials will be performed by the children, and the fastest time will be recorded.

Proprioception

时间窗: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 8 weeks (post-exercise)

The Joint Position Sense (JPS) test will be administered for proprioception assessment. A Baseline brand digital goniometer will be used for this assessment. Lower extremity proprioception will be evaluated, with separate measurements taken for the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Measurements will be taken for both the right and left sides. The child will be positioned appropriately, the joint will be passively brought to the target angle, and 10 seconds will be waited for the child to perceive the position. The child will then be returned to the starting position and asked to find the target angle with their eyes closed. The difference between the target angle and the angle created by the child during the test will be determined as the error score. Three measurements will be taken for the target angle, and the arithmetic mean of the differences will be calculated.