Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)NCT07813052
Effects of Exercise Combined With Cognitive Training on Motor Performance in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder
A study testing Combined exercise-cognitive training and Exercise-only training in people with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), run by Shanghai University of Sport at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
Background: Developmental Coordination Disorder(DCD) is a common neuro-developmental disorder in childhood, characterized by deficits in motor coordination. This study aimed to examine the effects of exercise combined with cognitive training versus exercise-only training on balance-postural control, gross motor skills… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 7 to 11 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
- What is being tested?
- Combined exercise-cognitive training and Exercise-only training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 14 Oct 2024to 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
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Children aged between 7-11 years old.
- Satisfied screening criteria for Developmental Coordination Disorder: MABC-2 total percentile ≤16 or sub-item percentile ≤5; meet age-cut-off score of DCD-Q questionnaire.
- Caregiver reported motor difficulties have presented from early developmental stage.
- Participants are capable of completing all training and assessment procedures.
- Written informed consent provided by legal guardians.
Who cannot join
- Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD or other neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Severe organic disease that contraindicates physical exercise.
- Receiving concurrent physical therapy or occupational therapy targeting motor coordination during study period.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
China1 site
Shanghai University of Sport
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200438
About this study
Official title: Effects of Exercise Combined With Cognitive Training on Balance, Motor Skills and Physical Fitness Among Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Developmental Coordination Disorder(DCD) is a common neuro-developmental disorder in childhood, characterized by deficits in motor coordination. This study aimed to examine the effects of exercise combined with cognitive training versus exercise-only training on balance-postural control, gross motor skills and physical fitness in children with DCD.
Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. Twenty children aged 7-11 years diagnosed with DCD were randomly allocated into experimental group(n=10) receiving 10-week combined exercise-cognitive training and control group(n=10) receiving exercise-only training. Training was implemented 3 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session for 10 weeks. Outcome assessments were performed at baseline, week-6 and week-10. Motor performance indicators included Y-balance test, eyes-closed single-leg stand, BOT-2 gross-motor sub-scale and national student physical fitness tests.
- Being tested
- Combined exercise-cognitive training, Exercise-only training
- Keywords
- Developmental Coordination Disorder, children, combined motor-cognitive training, dynamic balance, motor skills, motor function
- 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.
Combined exercise-cognitive trainingBehavioural
Participants received 10-week training, 3 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session. Each session contained 30-minute fundamental motor-skill exercise (running, jumping, kicking, throwing, catching), plus 30-minute cognitive training consisting of action observation, motor-imagery guided tasks with picture/video prompts. Training difficulty was progressively divided into basic phase(1-3w), advanced phase(4-6w), and integration phase(7-10w).
Exercise-only trainingBehavioural
Participants received identical 30-minute fundamental motor-skill physical exercise same as experimental group each session. Instead of cognitive training, children performed matched quiet non-cognitive rest activity for another 30 minutes, to equalize total trainer-contact time. The whole intervention lasted 10 weeks, three sessions weekly, 60 minutes each session.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Combined motor-cognitive training group | Experimental | Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder received combined motor-cognitive training. Each session integrated physical exercise and cognitive tasks to improve motor performance Receives: Behavioral: Combined exercise-cognitive training |
| Exercise-only training control group | Active comparator | children received general physical-activity training with the same frequency, duration and intensity as the experimental group, without additional cognitive tasks. Receives: Behavioral: Exercise-only training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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).
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) ,6weeks and post-intervention (10 weeks).
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) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
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) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
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) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
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) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
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) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
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) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
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) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Sep 2026
- Study start14 Oct 2024
- Primary completion30 Jun 2025
- Study completion30 Jun 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Shanghai University of Sport
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, DU Wenqian, Shanghai University of Sport
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07813052
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SUS-2026-DCD-001
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 10 Sep 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 10 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Exercise Combined With Cognitive Training on Balance, Motor Skills and Physical Fitness Among Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07813052
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SUS-2026-DCD-001
- Keywords
- Developmental Coordination Disorder, children, combined motor-cognitive training, dynamic balance, motor skills, motor function
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Shanghai University of SportUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 14 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Sep 2026 (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.
Background: Developmental Coordination Disorder(DCD) is a common neuro-developmental disorder in childhood, characterized by deficits in motor coordination. This study aimed to examine the effects of exercise combined with cognitive training versus exercise-only training on balance-postural control, gross motor skills and physical fitness in children with DCD.
Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. Twenty children aged 7-11 years diagnosed with DCD were randomly allocated into experimental group(n=10) receiving 10-week combined exercise-cognitive training and control group(n=10) receiving exercise-only training. Training was implemented 3 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session for 10 weeks. Outcome assessments were performed at baseline, week-6 and week-10. Motor performance indicators included Y-balance test, eyes-closed single-leg stand, BOT-2 gross-motor sub-scale and national student physical fitness tests.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Combined motor-cognitive training group | Experimental | Behavioral: Combined exercise-cognitive trainingChildren with Developmental Coordination Disorder received combined motor-cognitive training. Each session integrated physical exercise and cognitive tasks to improve motor performance |
| Exercise-only training control group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Exercise-only trainingchildren received general physical-activity training with the same frequency, duration and intensity as the experimental group, without additional cognitive tasks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 7 to 11 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Children aged between 7-11 years old.
- Satisfied screening criteria for Developmental Coordination Disorder: MABC-2 total percentile ≤16 or sub-item percentile ≤5; meet age-cut-off score of DCD-Q questionnaire.
- Caregiver reported motor difficulties have presented from early developmental stage.
- Participants are capable of completing all training and assessment procedures.
- Written informed consent provided by legal guardians.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD or other neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Severe organic disease that contraindicates physical exercise.
- Receiving concurrent physical therapy or occupational therapy targeting motor coordination during study period.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Combined exercise-cognitive trainingParticipants received 10-week training, 3 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session. Each session contained 30-minute fundamental motor-skill exercise (running, jumping, kicking, throwing, catching), plus 30-minute cognitive training consisting of action observation, motor-imagery guided tasks with picture/video prompts. Training difficulty was progressively divided into basic phase(1-3w), advanced phase(4-6w), and integration phase(7-10w). | Behavioural | Combined motor-cognitive training group |
| Exercise-only trainingParticipants received identical 30-minute fundamental motor-skill physical exercise same as experimental group each session. Instead of cognitive training, children performed matched quiet non-cognitive rest activity for another 30 minutes, to equalize total trainer-contact time. The whole intervention lasted 10 weeks, three sessions weekly, 60 minutes each session. | Behavioural | Exercise-only training control group |
Primary outcome
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.
Change in Dynamic Postural Control Assessed by the Y-Balance
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention (10 weeks).
Measures maximum controlled reach distance in three directions while maintaining a single-leg stance.
Change in Static Postural Control Assessed by the Single-Leg Stance Test with Eyes Closed
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks 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.
Change in Lower Limb Coordination Assessed by the Side Hop Test
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
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.
Change in Sprinting Speed Assessed by the 50-Meter Dash
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
The time taken (in seconds) to complete a 50-meter sprint is recorded to evaluate physical speed and acceleration capabilities.
Change in Coordination and Cardiopulmonary Endurance Assessed by the 1-Minute Jump Rope Test
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
The number of valid jumps completed within one minute is recorded to reflect whole-body coordination and cardiopulmonary endurance levels.
Change in Lower Limb Explosive Power Assessed by the Standing Long Jump
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
The maximum valid horizontal jump distance (in centimeters) is recorded to evaluate the explosive power of the lower limbs.
Change in Core Muscle Endurance Assessed by the 1-Minute Sit-Up Test
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
The number of correctly performed sit-ups completed in one minute is recorded to evaluate trunk and core muscle endurance.
Change in Flexibility Assessed by the Sit-and-Reach Test
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) ,6weeks and post-intervention 10weeks
The maximum forward reach distance (in centimeters) is recorded to evaluate the flexibility of the lower back and hamstring muscles.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Sep 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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Combined exercise-cognitive training and Exercise-only training in people with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), 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 5 inclusion and 3 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 10 Sep 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 Gross Motor Skills Assessed by the BOT-2 (time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (10 weeks).). The study lists 9 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 10 Sep 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.