Effects of motor-cognitive dual-task training on improving gait and balance abilities in children with developmental coordination disorder

BAO Zihan; LI Ziyang; GAO Jiawen; WANG Shun; LIU Fenghu; WANG Xunling; SUN Hui

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-1218

PDF(670 KB)

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (11) : 1257-1262. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-1218

Effects of motor-cognitive dual-task training on improving gait and balance abilities in children with developmental coordination disorder

BAO Zihan¹, LI Ziyang¹, GAO Jiawen¹, WANG Shun¹, LIU Fenghu², WANG Xunling¹, SUN Hui³

Author information +

History +

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of motor-cognitive dual-task training on balance and gait parameters in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and to compare these effects with those of motor task training and sensory integration training, thereby providing evidence for the rehabilitation of children with DCD. Methods From June to July 2025, a total of 78 children with DCD aged 5 - 8 years were recruited in Huaibei and randomly assigned to a motor-cognitive dual-task group, a motor task group, or a sensory integration group, with 26 children in each group.The intervention lasted 12 weeks and was conducted three times per week for 60 min per session.Balance was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2), and gait parameters were measured using the GAITRite system before and after the intervention. Results Before the intervention, no statistically significant differences were observed among the three groups in balance scores or gait parameters (P>0.05).After the intervention, MABC-2 balance scores increased significantly from baseline in all three groups (P<0.001), and the between-group difference after the intervention was statistically significant (F=4.854, P=0.010).Regarding gait parameters, the motor-cognitive dual-task group showed significantly greater improvements in stride length (F=4.231), cadence (F=3.195), gait speed (F=4.335), double-support phase (F=8.323), and single-support phase (F=5.583) than the motor task and sensory integration groups (P<0.05), whereas gait cycle improvement did not differ significantly among the three groups (P＞0.05). Conclusions Compared with motor task training and sensory integration training alone, motor-cognitive dual-task training has significant advantages in improving balance and optimizing gait parameters in children with DCD and may provide reference for selecting rehabilitation programs for DCD children.

Key words

dual-task training / developmental coordination disorder / gait / balance / children

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

BAO Zihan, LI Ziyang, GAO Jiawen, WANG Shun, LIU Fenghu, WANG Xunling, SUN Hui. Effects of motor-cognitive dual-task training on improving gait and balance abilities in children with developmental coordination disorder[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2026, 34(11): 1257-1262 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-1218

References

[1] Blank R, Barnett AL, Cairney J, et al.International clinical practice recommendations on the definition, diagnosis, assessment, intervention, and psychosocial aspects of developmental coordination disorder[J].Dev Med Child Neurol, 2019, 61(3):242-285.
[2] Karras HC, Morin DN, Gill K,et al.Health-related quality of life of children with developmental coordination disorder[J].Res Dev Disabil, 2019, 84:85-95.
[3] 刘振寰.发育性运动协调障碍儿童的早期筛查与干预[J].中国儿童保健杂志,2024,32(5): 475-479.
Liu ZH.Early screening and intervention of children with developmental coordination disorder[J].Chin J Child Health Care, 2024,32(5): 475-479.(in Chinese)
[4] Pranjic＇M, Rahman N, Kamenetskiy A,et al.A systematic review of behavioral and neurobiological profiles associated with coexisting attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and developmental coordination disorder[J].Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 2023, 153:105389.
[5] 花静.儿童发育性协调障碍的早期识别和共病问题[J].中国儿童保健杂志,2025,33(5): 465-471.
Hua J.Early identification and comorbidity of developmental coordination disorders in children[J].Chin J Child Health Care, 2025,33(5): 465-471.(in Chinese)
[6] Verbecque E, Johnson C, Rameckers E, et al.Balance control in individuals with developmental coordination disorder:A systematic review and Meta-analysis[J].Gait Posture, 2021, 83:268-279.
[7] Geuze RH.Postural control in children with developmental coordination disorder[J].Neural Plast, 2005, 12(2-3):183-272.
[8] Schott N,EI-Rajab I, Klotzbier T.Cognitive-motor interference during fine and gross motor tasks in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD)[J].Res Dev Disabil, 2016, 57:136-148.
[9] 中华预防医学会儿童保健分会,中国妇幼保健协会儿童早期发展专业委员会,中国康复医学会儿童康复专业委员会发育性协调障碍学组.儿童发育性协调障碍的筛查、评估和诊断指南(2025)[J].中华儿科杂志,2025,63(5): 444-453.
Child Health Branch, Chinese Preventive Medicine Association;Child Early Development Committee, Chinese Maternal and Child Health Association;Developmental Coordination Disorder Group, Pediatric Rehabilitation Committee, Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine.Guideline for screening, assessment and diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder in children (2025)[J].Chin J Pediatr, 2025,63(5): 444-453.(in Chinese)
[10] Subara-Zukic E, McGuckian TB, Cole MH,et al.Locomotor-cognitive dual-tasking in children with developmental coordination disorder[J].Front Psychol, 2024, 15:1279427.
[11] Gao J, Yang Y, Xu X, et al.Motor-based interventions in children with developmental coordination disorder: A systematic review and Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials[J].Sports Med Open, 2025, 11(1):59.
[12] Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Herrmann SD, et al.2011 compendium of physical activities: A second update of codes and MET values[J].Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2011, 43(8):1575-1581.
[13] 中国康复医学会儿童康复专业委员会发育性协调障碍学组,中国妇幼保健协会儿童康复专业委员会,中国优生优育协会儿童生长与康复专业委员会,等.《儿童发育性协调障碍的早期干预和康复指南》计划书[J].中华实用儿科临床杂志,2025,40(1): 9-11.
Developmental Coordination Disorder Group, Pediatric Rehabilitation Committee, Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine;Pediatric Rehabilitation Committee, Chinese Maternal and Child Health Association;Children′s Growth and Rehabilitation Committee, Chinese Association for Improving Birth Outcome and Child Development,et al.Guideline for early intervention and rehabilitation of developmental coordination disorder in children: A protocol[J].Chin J Appl Clin Pediatr, 2025,40(1): 9-11.(in Chinese)
[14] 杨志勇,何彦璐,陈玮锭,等.平衡仪训练对发育性协调障碍儿童平衡能力的影响[J].中国妇幼保健,2021,36(9): 2051-2054
Yang ZY, He YL, Chen WD, et al.Effect of balance instrument training on balance ability of children with developmental coordination disorder[J].Matern Child Health Care China, 2021,36(9): 2051-2054.(in Chinese)
[15] World Health Organization.Internationalclassification of functioning, disability, and health: Children and youth version: ICF-CY[M].World Health Organization, 2007.extension://ngbkcglbmlglgldjfcnhaijeecaccgfi/https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/81e04699-2930-4da2-ac97-76725
c7dcc07/content
[16] Cheng YTY, Tsang WWN, Schooling CM,et al.Reactive balance performance and neuromuscular and cognitive responses to unpredictable balance perturbations in children with developmental coordination disorder[J].Gait Posture, 2018, 62:20-26.
[17] Huang Q, Yeung MK, Fong KNK, et al.Cortical activity during online motor control in children with and without developmental coordination disorder: A cross-sectional functional near-infrared spectroscopy study[J].J Neuroeng Rehabil, 2024, 21(1):160.
[18] Jelsma LD, Geuze RH, Fuermaier ABM,et al.Effect of dual tasking on a dynamic balance task in children with and without DCD[J].Hum Mov Sci, 2021, 79:102859.
[19] Goetschalckx M, Feys P, Rameckers E,et al.Auditory-motor synchronization in developmental coordination disorder: Effects on interlimb coordination during walking and running[J].Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2024, 1540(1):307-323.
[20] Kuijpers R, Smulders E, Groen BE,et al.Walking adaptability improves after treadmill training in children with developmental coordination disorder: A proof-of-concept study[J].Gait Posture, 2022, 92:258-263.
[21] Al-Yahya E, Esser P, Weedon BD, et al.Motor learning in developmental coordination disorder: Behavioral and neuroimaging study[J].Front Neurosci, 2023, 17:1187790.