How children with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder learn a new balance task

Case-Control Research of the Movement Strategies Used During Balance Tasks in Children With and Without Developmental Coordination Disorder

This study tests whether children with Developmental Coordination Disorder and typically developing children learn a virtual-reality balance task differently and compares their brain activity while learning.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Ages: 7 Years to 12 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Hasselt University (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Diepenbeek, Limburg)
• Trial ID: NCT06802094 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The study enrolls children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and matched typically developing peers to perform a single-session balance intervention delivered in virtual reality. Investigators will record movement strategies and brain activity during practice and use standardized tests (Kids-BESTest-2 and Movement ABC-2) to characterize balance and motor function. Children with DCD are included based on DSM-5 diagnosis or research screening and must show objective balance deficits, while controls are matched by age, sex, and comorbidities and must show normal postural control. Participants with intellectual, visual, vestibular, or other neurological problems are excluded to avoid confounding the balance and brain measures.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal participants are school-aged children diagnosed with or suspected of having DCD who show objective balance deficits on the Kids-BESTest-2, plus age- and sex-matched typically developing children for comparison.

Not a fit: Children with intellectual disability, significant visual or vestibular problems, or other neurological conditions are excluded and are unlikely to benefit from this specific protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help tailor balance training and rehabilitation approaches for children with DCD.

How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies show virtual-reality balance training can improve postural control in children, but combining single-session learning with concurrent brain recordings specifically in DCD is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

For children with DCD

* Children with the clinical diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) based on criteria of the DSM-5 (APA, 2013), diagnosed by a pediatrician.
* Children who have no formal diagnosis are evaluated by the research team using the diagnostic criteria as outlined in the inclusion criteria, these children will be included as "suspected of having DCD"
* Balance problems need to be present and objectified with the Balance Evaluation Systems Test for Children, second edition (Kids-BESTest-2). (total score below 80%)

For children without DCD

* Total score at or below the 25th percentile on the Movement Assessment Battery for children, second edition
* Normal postural control, objectified by the Kids-BESTest-2 (score at or above 80%)
* Match with children with DCD based on their sex, age and potential comorbidities.

Exclusion Criteria:

Presence of:

* Intellectual problems
* Visual problems
* Vestibular problems
* Neurological conditions
* Not able to follow instructions due to behavioral problems
* Refuse to participate

Where this trial is running

Diepenbeek, Limburg

• Hasselt Univeristy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences — Diepenbeek, Limburg, Belgium (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Maja Van Grinderbeek

Conditions: Development Coordination Disorder, Typical Developed Children, Postural control, Movement strategies, Brain activity, Postural balance [Mesh], Pediatrics [Mesh], Motor Skills Disorders [Mesh]