Related Experiment Videos
Motor-cognitive integrated training improves executive function and gross motor skills in children with developmental
Ji-Wei Chen1, Guan-Li Ma2, Wen-Qian Du1
1School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Background:
To evaluate a school-based pilot intervention combining fundamental movement skills (FMS) training and action observation and motor imagery (AOMI) for gross motor skills and executive function in developmental coordination disorder (DCD).
Methods:
In this pilot randomized controlled trial, 20 children with DCD were randomized to an experimental group (FMS plus AOMI, n = 10) or an active control group (FMS plus video-based physical activity education). Both groups completed sessions three times per week for 10 weeks. Gross motor skills were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3. Executive function was evaluated using the More-Odd Shifting, Stroop, and Spatial Working Memory tasks.
Results:
Motor skills improved in both groups, with larger gains observed in the experimental group. For executive function, the experimental group showed greater improvements mainly in reaction time and inverse efficiency scores, whereas accuracy improvements were limited and significant only in selected conditions.
Conclusion:
Compared with FMS combined with video-based physical activity education, FMS combined with AOMI may be associated with additional improvements in motor skills and executive function-related behavioural performance in children with DCD. Given the small pilot sample, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary rather than definitive evidence of efficacy or superiority.
Clinical Trial Registration:
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT07486856.
Impact:
Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) commonly present with both motor coordination deficits and executive function difficulties. Existing interventions mainly focus on motor skills, whereas motor-cognitive integrated approaches remain insufficiently tested in school settings. This pilot randomized controlled trial provides preliminary evidence that a school-based programme combining fundamental movement skills training with action observation and motor imagery may be associated with larger improvements than an attention-matched active control condition involving fundamental movement skills training and video-based physical activity education.
