Obstacle Course Versus Neuromotor Task Training in Children With DCD
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Obstacle Course Training, Neuromotor Task Training.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Basic parameters: 7 years — 10 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Pakistan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Comparison of Obstacle Course Training and Neuromotor Task Training on Motor Planning and Functional Mobility in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder
Overview
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) affects motor planning and functional mobility in children, leading to long-term functional and psychosocial difficulties. This randomized clinical trial will compare the effectiveness of Obstacle Course Training (OCT) and Neuromotor Task Training (NTT) in improving motor planning and functional mobility in children aged 7-10 years diagnosed with DCD. Participants will be randomly allocated to either OCT or NTT for 9 weeks (two sessions per week). Outcomes will be assessed using standardized motor performance measures to determine the more effective intervention.
Detailed description
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder affecting approximately 5-6% of school-aged children worldwide. Marked by impairments in motor coordination, skill development, and functional performance. The complex etiology of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is linked to atypical neurodevelopment, genetic predispositions, and associated co-morbidities such as ADHD and ASD, further influenced by perinatal factors like prematurity and low birth weight. DCD is associated with long-term consequences, including difficulties in activities of daily living (ADLs), reduced participation in physical activities, and impaired psychosocial functioning, which collectively increase the risk of obesity and lower self-efficacy. Early, targeted, and task-specific interventions are crucial. Among these, Neuromotor Task Training (NTT) focuses on improving motor planning through structured, cognitive strategies, while Obstacle Course Training (OCT) provides a dynamic setting that promotes functional movement and real-time problem-solving.
This randomized clinical trial will compare the effects of both interventions. The study will be conducted over 10 months at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital (ULTH) pediatric rehabilitation center and Sehat Medical Complex (SMC) Hanjarwal. The duration of the intervention will be 9 weeks, with 2 sessions per week. There will be two study groups, and convenient sampling techniques will be used. Eligible participants will be children aged 7 to 10 years, both males and females, diagnosed with DCD based on DSM-5 criteria, with a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score \>24 and an IQ above 75 on the Raven Intelligence Scale. Screening for DCD will be done using the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) and motor proficiency will be assessed using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2). Children with a DCDQ score of ≤48 and a BOT-2 score of ≤40 will be included. Children with other neurological, psychiatric, or orthopedic conditions will be excluded. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either Obstacle Course Training (OCT) or Neuromotor Task Training (NTT) to assess which intervention more effectively improves motor planning and functional mobility. SPSS version 27 will be used for data analysis.
Interventions
- Behavioral Obstacle Course Training
Participants will perform Obstacle Course Training on a 12-meter walkway with a midpoint obstacle at low (30% leg length) and high (50% leg length) heights. Training includes single-task walking (8 trials) and dual-task walking (16 trials) with concurrent visual discrimination tasks using flashcards. Walking time, toe clearance, and response accuracy will be recorded. Sessions will be conducted twice weekly for 9 weeks. - Behavioral Neuromotor Task Training
Each session will involve task-oriented activities arranged in multiple stations. Activities will be broken down into planning, execution, and evaluation phases and will include soccer, netball, basketball, tagging games, rope skipping, and other age-appropriate functional games. Children will perform tasks with therapist guidance and feedback to enhance motor planning and performance. Each session will last approximately 45-60 minutes, including warm-up, main activities, and cool-down. The int
Primary outcome measures
- Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2) for fine and gross Motor Skills [Time frame: 9 weeks]
- Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) [Time frame: 9 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- • Diagnosis of DCD based on DSM4/5 criteria.
- Children aged 7-10.
- Gender male and female.
- Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score >24 .
- Cognitive development appropriate for chronological age.
- Raven Intelligence Test Scale (IQ > 75) .
- Developmental Coordination Questionnaire ≤48 points: likely DCD (≤ 10th percentile).
- BOT-2 score ≤ 40.
Exclusion criteria
- History of surgery and lower limb injuries over the past 12 months.
- Use of assistive devices to balance and walk.
- Severe ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (if it significantly interferes with participation), or major psychiatric disorders.
- Taking neuroleptics or any other medications that significantly alter muscle tone, coordination, or attention.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Pakistan · 1 center
- Riphah Rehabilitation Center, Riphah International University — Lahore
Publications
- 1. Fogel Y, Stuart N, Joyce T, Barnett AL. Relationships between motor skills and executive functions in developmental coordination disorder (DCD): A systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2023;30(3):344-56. 2. Castellucci G, Singla R. Developmental Coordination Disorder (Dyspraxia). StatPearls [Internet]: StatPearls Publishing; 2024. 3. Karabak M, Akıncı MA, Yıldırım Dem
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07575178 · Riphah IU-Arshmaan