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Developmental Coordination DisorderNCT07486856

Motor-Cognitive Integrated Intervention for Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder

A study testing Action Observation and Motor Imagery (AOMI) Training, Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) Training and General Physical Activities in people with Developmental Coordination Disorder, run by Shanghai University of Sport at 1 site in China.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial 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). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 7 to 11 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Developmental Coordination Disorder
What is being tested?
Action Observation and Motor Imagery (AOMI) Training, Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) Training and General Physical Activities
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
20 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
1 Mar 2025to 30 Jun 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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 11 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • 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.

Who cannot join

  • 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.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site
  • Shanghai University of Sport

    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200438

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: A School-based Motor-cognitive Integrated Training Programme Improves Executive Function and Motor Competence in 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?

Read more

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.

Read the 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).

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.

Being tested
Action Observation and Motor Imagery (AOMI) Training, Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) Training, General Physical Activities
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.

  • Action Observation and Motor Imagery (AOMI) TrainingBehavioural

    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) TrainingBehavioural

    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 ActivitiesBehavioural

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

Study groups in NCT07486856
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
AOMI Combined with FMS Intervention GroupExperimentalParticipants will receive a 10-week motor-cognitive integrated training program, consisting of 60-minute sessions conducted 3 times per week.
Receives: Behavioral: Action Observation and Motor Imagery (AOMI) Training; Behavioral: Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) Training
Standard FMS Intervention GroupActive comparatorParticipants will receive a 10-week pure motor intervention, consisting of 60-minute sessions conducted 3 times per week.
Receives: Behavioral: Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) Training; Behavioral: General Physical Activities

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Inhibitory Control Assessed by the Stroop Task

    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.

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

  2. Change in Cognitive Flexibility Assessed by the More-Odd Shifting

    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.

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

  3. Change in Spatial Working Memory Assessed by the 16-Grid Paradigm

    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.

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

Secondary outcomes (10)
  1. Change in Gross Motor Skills Assessed by the BOT-2

    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.

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

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

    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.

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

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

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

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

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

    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.

    Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention 10weeks

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

    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.

    Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention 10 weeks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted23 Mar 2026
  2. Study start1 Mar 2025
  3. Primary completion30 Jun 2025
  4. Study completion30 Jun 2025

Resources

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
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
20 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07486856
Sponsor's protocol ID
102772024RT188
Status last verified
Mar 2026
First submitted
16 Mar 2026
Last updated
25 Mar 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Chen JW, Ma GL, Du WQ, Zhang X, Sun B, Zhang B, Zhu K. Motor-cognitive integrated training improves executive function and gross motor skills in children with developmental coordination disorder: a pilot RCT. Pediatr Res. 2026 Oct 13. doi: 10.1038/s41390-026-05549-5. Online ahead of print.

    PubMed 42869961

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Action Observation and Motor Imagery (AOMI) Training, Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) Training and General Physical Activities in people with Developmental Coordination Disorder, run by Shanghai University of Sport at 1 site in China.

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 8 inclusion and 6 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 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 1 site in China. 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?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Inhibitory Control Assessed by the Stroop Task (time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07486856, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 25 Mar 2026.

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