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NCT Number: NCT06400043

Dual-tasking Effect on Gait in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder

The aim of the study is to collect data in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) aged between 7 and 17 years for analyses of the gait pattern while walking at the Gait Real-time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL) at the university hospital of Ghent.

Children with DCD will be asked to take a motor test (M-ABC-2) as well as walk on the treadmill during a single session of approximately 3 hours.

The following data will be collected on the GRAIL while subjects walk at different gait speeds: 3D kinematics, kinetics, and EMG.

Additionally, 3D kinematics, kinetics, and EMG data will be collected when performing either a cognitive (Stroop Color and Word Test) or motor (requiring arm swing) dual-task while walking at comfortable walking speed..

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Key information

Conditions

Gait Mental Disorders Motor Skills Disorders Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Age range

7 year–17 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Ghent University, Ghent, East-Flanders, Belgium

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About this study

The aim of the study is to collect data in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) aged between 7 and 17 years for analyses of the gait pattern while walking at the Gait Real-time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL). This is a treadmill linked to a virtual environment used to analyse and train gait at the Children's Rehabilitation Centre of Ghent University Hospital. The data from children with DCD will be compared with typically developing children. In this study, only children with DCD will be included and the data resulting from this study will be compared to the data from the previous study in typically developing children (ID: B670201942108).

Children with DCD will be asked to take a motor test (M-ABC-2) as well as walk on the treadmill during a single session of approximately 3 hours. While walking at comfortable walking speed, two short games will be played i.e. dual-tasking. This involves both a cognitive (Stroop Colour-Word Test) and a motor (requires the use of the arms) dual task projected in the virtual environment of the GRAIL. The cognitive and motor task will be performed both while standing still (single tasking: ST) and while walking (dual tasking: DT). Simultaneously, kinetics, kinematics, and EMG data will be collected for 3D gait analysis. Using muscle synergy analysis (based on EMG data), the degree of gait automatization will be analysed. The data from children with DCD will be compared with typically developing children to determine whether a reduced gait automatization can be observed in children with DCD.

Parents will be asked to complete a screening list (CVO/DCD-Q) for motor problems in daily life. This aims as a support to the motor test (M-ABC-2), together providing additional insight into children's motor functioning (in daily life).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • They have an official DCD diagnosis;
  • Are aged between 7 and 17 years old;
  • Can walk at least 15 minutes consecutively;
  • Have good or corrected vision.

Exclusion criteria

  • They suffer from a neurological disorder;
  • Take medications that affect gait and balance;
  • Have undergone surgical procedures on the lower limbs in the past;
  • Experience pain in their lower limbs or back at the time of testing.

Treatment and study plan

Cognitive dual-task

Other

Participants will be asked to walk at comfortable walking speed while playing an additional cognitive task, namely the Stroop Color and Word Test.

Motor dual-task

Other

Participants will be asked to walk at comfortable walking speed while playing an additional motor task, namely a game that requires arm swing to hit the targets.

Primary outcomes

  1. Kinematics

    Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1

    3D kinematics of lower and upper limb joints while walking (degrees)

  2. Kinetics

    Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1

    3D kinetics of lower limb joints while walking (Nm)

  3. EMG

    Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1

    Muscle activity of 16 lower limb muscles (microvolts)

  4. Muscle synergies

    Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1

    Synergy analysis will be conducted using the EMG data (variance accounted for -VAF)

  5. Spatiotemporal parameters

    Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1

    Spatial parameters (m), temporal parameters (s), walking velocity (m/s)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Gait deviation index

    Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1

    Based on kinematics, the lower-limb gait deviations will be calculated (degrees)

  2. Game result (cognitive task)

    Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1

    Score (% correct)

  3. Game result (motor task)

    Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1

    Score (% correct)

Other outcomes

  1. Demographic data

    Time frame: Single point baseline assessment

    Gender, age

  2. Anthropometric data (height)

    Time frame: Single point baseline assessment

    Height and segment lengths (cm)

  3. Anthropometric data (weight)

    Time frame: Single point baseline assessment

    Weight (kg)

  4. M-ABC-2

    Time frame: Single point baseline assessment

    Standardized tool to identify motor functioning in children (standard score between 1 and 19)

    Standard scores indicate:

    • Significant motor difficulty: standard score < 6
    • Minor motor difficulties: standard score 6 or 7
    • No motor difficulty: standard score > 7

  5. Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ)

    Time frame: Single point baseline assessment

    Brief parent questionnaire to screen for coordination disorders in children (total score between 15-75)

    Children score suspected/an indication for DCD when:

    • Age 5-7: score of <47
    • Age 8-9: score of <56
    • Age 10-15: score of <58

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Michelle Verhoeven

CONTACT

[email protected]

+32 9 332 46 57

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Ghent

Other

Collaborators

  • University Hospital, Ghent

Registry information

Official study title

The Influence of an Interceptive Task on Gait in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder Compared to Typically Developing Children

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 6, 2024
Registry last updated
Mar 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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