GaitNCT06400043
Dual-tasking Effect on Gait in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder
A study testing Cognitive dual-task and Motor dual-task in people with Gait, run by University Ghent at 2 sites in Belgium.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 7 to 17 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Gait
- What is being tested?
- Cognitive dual-task and Motor dual-task
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 23 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesBelgium
- Study dates
- 12 Jul 2024to 31 Aug 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 7 to 17 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- 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.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Belgium2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Ghent University
Ghent, East-Flanders, 9000
Lynn Bar-On, Prof.
- Recruiting
Ghent University
Ghent, 9000
Lynn Bar-On, Prof., Lynn.BarOn@ugent.be
About this study
Official title: The Influence of an Interceptive Task on Gait in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder Compared to Typically Developing Children
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.
Read more
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..
Read the detailed description
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).
- Conditions
- Gait
- Being tested
- Cognitive dual-task, Motor dual-task
- Keywords
- Gait analysis, Dual-tasking, EMG, Kinematics, Kinetics, Selective motor control, Developmental Coordination Disorder, DCD
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Skills Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Cognitive dual-taskOther
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-taskOther
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Treadmill walking | Experimental | Participants will be asked to walk at different gait velocities for 1 minute. The treadmill speed will be increased incrementally at 0.1m/s intervals until just before running. The comfortable walking speed will be determined. Receives: Other: Cognitive dual-task; Other: Motor dual-task |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Kinematics
3D kinematics of lower and upper limb joints while walking (degrees)
Measured: Single point assessment, day 1
Kinetics
3D kinetics of lower limb joints while walking (Nm)
Measured: Single point assessment, day 1
EMG
Muscle activity of 16 lower limb muscles (microvolts)
Measured: Single point assessment, day 1
Muscle synergies
Synergy analysis will be conducted using the EMG data (variance accounted for -VAF)
Measured: Single point assessment, day 1
Spatiotemporal parameters
Spatial parameters (m), temporal parameters (s), walking velocity (m/s)
Measured: Single point assessment, day 1
Secondary outcomes (3)
Gait deviation index
Based on kinematics, the lower-limb gait deviations will be calculated (degrees)
Measured: Single point assessment, day 1
Game result (cognitive task)
Score (% correct)
Measured: Single point assessment, day 1
Game result (motor task)
Score (% correct)
Measured: Single point assessment, day 1
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 May 2024
- Study start12 Jul 2024
- Primary completion31 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Aug 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for GaitStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University GhentThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 23 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Ghent
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University Hospital, Ghent
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Lynn Bar-On, Principal investigator, University Ghent
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06400043
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ONZ-2023-0650
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 1 May 2024
- Last updated
- 20 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Influence of an Interceptive Task on Gait in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder Compared to Typically Developing Children
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06400043
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ONZ-2023-0650
- Conditions
- Gait
- Keywords
- Gait analysis, Dual-tasking, EMG, Kinematics, Kinetics, Selective motor control, Developmental Coordination Disorder, DCD
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 23 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University GhentUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University Hospital, Ghent
- Study start
- 12 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 6 May 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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..
Detailed description
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).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Treadmill walking | Experimental | Other: Cognitive dual-task, Other: Motor dual-taskParticipants will be asked to walk at different gait velocities for 1 minute. The treadmill speed will be increased incrementally at 0.1m/s intervals until just before running. The comfortable walking speed will be determined. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 7 to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive dual-taskParticipants will be asked to walk at comfortable walking speed while playing an additional cognitive task, namely the Stroop Color and Word Test. | Other | Treadmill walking |
| Motor dual-taskParticipants 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. | Other | Treadmill walking |
Primary outcome
Kinematics
Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1
3D kinematics of lower and upper limb joints while walking (degrees)
Kinetics
Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1
3D kinetics of lower limb joints while walking (Nm)
EMG
Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1
Muscle activity of 16 lower limb muscles (microvolts)
Muscle synergies
Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1
Synergy analysis will be conducted using the EMG data (variance accounted for -VAF)
Spatiotemporal parameters
Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1
Spatial parameters (m), temporal parameters (s), walking velocity (m/s)
3 secondary outcomes
Gait deviation index
Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1
Game result (cognitive task)
Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1
Game result (motor task)
Time frame: Single point assessment, day 1
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Lynn Bar-On principal investigator
University Ghent
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Cognitive dual-task and Motor dual-task in people with Gait, run by University Ghent at 2 sites in Belgium.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Belgium. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Michelle Verhoeven (+32 9 332 46 57, michelle.verhoeven@ugent.be), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Kinematics (time frame: Single point assessment, day 1). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Mar 2026.