A School-based Motor-cognitive Integrated Training Programme Improves Executive Function and Motor Competence in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Shanghai University of Sport
- Enrollment
- 20
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Inhibitory Control Assessed by the Stroop Task
Overview
Brief Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of an Action Observation and Motor Imagery (AOMI) combined with Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) intervention for children aged 7 to 11 years with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does the AOMI combined with FMS intervention improve basic motor proficiency and posture control in children with DCD?
Does this integrated motor-cognitive intervention enhance executive functions, specifically cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and spatial working memory?
Researchers will compare an experimental group (receiving 30 minutes of AOMI and 30 minutes of FMS per session) to a control group (receiving 30 minutes of FMS and 30 minutes of non-specific activities) to see if the combined approach yields superior outcomes.
A total of 20 strictly screened children with DCD will participate. Both groups will attend 60-minute intervention sessions, 3 times a week, for a total of 10 weeks, while maintaining their normal daily school activities.
Detailed Description
This study employs a single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a 2 (Time: pre-test, post-test) × 2 (Group: experimental, control) mixed design framework to investigate the empirical effects of a motor-cognitive integrated intervention for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).
The study begins with a rigorous 4-week screening phase, including a 2-week Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) screening followed by a 2-week Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCD-Q) assessment and baseline motor testing. Based on the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, 20 eligible children aged 7-11 from a primary school in Shanghai will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=10) or the control group (n=10).
Intervention Phase (10 Weeks):
Both groups will undergo a 10-week intervention, with sessions conducted 3 times per week, lasting 60 minutes each.
Experimental Group: Participants will receive an integrated AOMI and FMS training program. Each 60-minute session consists of 30 minutes of computerized AOMI training (following an "observe-imagine-execute" cognitive framework) and 30 minutes of physical FMS training (focusing on running, jumping, kicking, throwing, and catching).
Control Group: Participants will receive a pure motor intervention. Each 60-minute session consists of 30 minutes of identical FMS training, while the remaining 30 minutes involve non-specific physical activities without specialized cognitive training elements. Both groups will continue to participate in their regular school activities.
Assessment Phase:
Blinded outcome assessors will conduct comprehensive evaluations at baseline and post-intervention. Primary outcome measures focus on executive functions assessed via rigorously standardized computerized tasks: the More-Odd Shifting task (cognitive flexibility), the Stroop task (inhibitory control), and a 16-Grid Paradigm (spatial working memory). Secondary outcomes comprehensively evaluate gross motor skills, dynamic/static postural control, and physical fitness indicators.
This study strictly adheres to ethical guidelines, and informed consent is obtained from the legal guardians of all participating children prior to the commencement of the research.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 7 Years to 11 Years (Child)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Aged 7 to 11 years, currently enrolled as a primary school student.
- •Meets the diagnostic characteristics of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) according to the DSM-5 criteria, confirmed via standardized screening tools.
- •Total percentile score ≤ 16, or any subtest percentile score ≤ 5 on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2).
- •Score on the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCD-Q) meets the screening cut-off for the corresponding age group.
- •Parent/guardian reports that motor coordination issues have existed since early development.
- •Possesses basic comprehension skills to understand researchers' instructions and complete motor training and cognitive tasks.
- •Able to participate independently in daily school activities without severe motor functional limitations.
- •Capable of completing the majority of the intervention sessions and the entire testing protocol.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Currently receiving systematic specialized sports training or competitive athletic training.
- •Recent surgery or acute injury that significantly impairs motor capacity.
- •Severe neurological diseases or other health conditions that may affect motor performance.
- •Co-morbidity with severe intellectual disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or other developmental disorders that significantly affect the ability to participate in the experiment.
- •Currently receiving rehabilitation treatments or other systematic motor intervention programs (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy, or psychomotor training).
- •Inability to complete the behavioral tests or cooperate with the research procedures.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Inhibitory Control Assessed by the Stroop Task
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).
A computerized task evaluating automated response inhibition under conflict. Stimuli are four Chinese color words presented in congruent or incongruent font colors (1:1 ratio). Participants must ignore the meaning and respond only to the font color. The task consists of 68 trials. Performance is assessed via RT and accuracy.
Change in Cognitive Flexibility Assessed by the More-Odd Shifting
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).
A computerized task evaluating rule-switching ability. Stimuli (digits 1-9, excluding 5) require magnitude, parity, or color-cued judgments. Task 1 and 2 are single-rule blocks (58 trials each). Task 3 is a mixed-rule block (59 trials) producing switch and non-switch conditions. Performance is evaluated via Reaction Time (RT) and accuracy.
Change in Spatial Working Memory Assessed by the 16-Grid Paradigm
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).
A computerized task assessing spatial information retention and updating in a 4x4 grid. 4 black squares are presented (1000ms), followed by a blank screen (1000ms), and a target stimulus. Participants judge whether the target is the original pattern rotated by 90°. The task consists of 90 trials divided into 4 blocks.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Gross Motor Skills Assessed by the BOT-2(Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).)
- Change in Gross Motor Development Assessed by the TGMD-3(Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).)
- Change in Dynamic Postural Control Assessed by the Y-Balance(Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).)
- Change in Static Postural Control Assessed by the Single-Leg Stance Test with Eyes Closed(Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention 10weeks)
- Change in Lower Limb Coordination Assessed by the Side Hop Test(Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention 10 weeks)
- Change in Sprinting Speed Assessed by the 50-Meter Dash(Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).)
- Change in Coordination and Cardiopulmonary Endurance Assessed by the 1-Minute Jump Rope Test(Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).)
- Change in Lower Limb Explosive Power Assessed by the Standing Long Jump(Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).)
- Change in Core Muscle Endurance Assessed by the 1-Minute Sit-Up Test(Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).)
- Change in Flexibility Assessed by the Sit-and-Reach Test(Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).)
Investigators
Zhu kun
Professor
Shanghai University of Sport