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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07486856

Motor-Cognitive Integrated Intervention for Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Developmental Coordination Disorder Mental Disorders Motor Skills Disorders Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Age range

7 year–11 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Shanghai University of Sport

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200438, China

About this study

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).

Following a comprehensive screening process to identify eligible participants, children are randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the active control group.

During the 10-week intervention period, participants in both groups attend sessions three times per week. The experimental group receives a structured motor-cognitive integrated training program that uniquely combines Action Observation and Motor Imagery (AOMI) with physical Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) training. The control group participates in standard FMS training matched for duration and frequency, alongside general physical activities without the specialized cognitive training elements.

To evaluate the overall efficacy of the integrated approach, comprehensive assessments evaluating motor proficiency, postural control, and executive functions are conducted by blinded assessors before the intervention begins (baseline) and immediately after the 10-week intervention concludes.

All study procedures adhere strictly to ethical guidelines, and informed consent is obtained from the legal guardians of all participating children prior to the commencement of the research.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

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.

Treatment and study plan

Action Observation and Motor Imagery (AOMI) training

Behavioral

A computerized "observe-imagine-execute" cognitive training framework aimed at enhancing internal motor representations via visual observation and mental imagery. This component lasts for 30 minutes per session.

Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) Training

Behavioral

Physical training progressively focusing on core locomotor and object control skills (e.g., running, jumping, kicking, throwing, catching). This component lasts for 30 minutes per session.

General Physical Activities

Behavioral

Non-specific physical activities lacking specialized cognitive training elements, serving as a time-matched control condition. This component lasts for 30 minutes per session.

Primary outcomes

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  1. Change in Gross Motor Skills Assessed by the BOT-2

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).

    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.

  2. Change in Gross Motor Development Assessed by the TGMD-3

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).

    The Test of Gross Motor Development - Third Edition (TGMD-3) evaluates fundamental locomotor and object control skills. The total score is calculated based on the performance criteria of the skills. The total score ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 100. Higher scores indicate better overall gross motor development.

  3. Change in Dynamic Postural Control Assessed by the Y-Balance

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).

    Measures maximum controlled reach distance in three directions while maintaining a single-leg stance.

  4. Change in Static Postural Control Assessed by the Single-Leg Stance Test with Eyes Closed

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention 10weeks

    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.

  5. Change in Lower Limb Coordination Assessed by the Side Hop Test

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention 10 weeks

    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.

  6. Change in Sprinting Speed Assessed by the 50-Meter Dash

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).

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

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

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).

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

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

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).

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

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

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).

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

  10. Change in Flexibility Assessed by the Sit-and-Reach Test

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).

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

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Shanghai University of Sport

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A School-based Motor-cognitive Integrated Training Programme Improves Executive Function and Motor Competence in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Mar 23, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 25, 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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