Development Coordination DisorderNCT07547514
The Effects of Yoga on Sensory, Motor, Cognitive Skills, and Perceived Stress in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder
A study testing Yoga intervention in people with Development Coordination Disorder and Motor Coordination or Function; Developmental Disorder, run by Fenerbahce University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This clinical study aims to investigate the effects of yoga on children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). DCD is a condition that can make it difficult for children to perform everyday activities, as it affects their ability to plan movements, maintain balance, and coordinate their actions. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 7 to 11 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Development Coordination Disorder, Motor Coordination or Function; Developmental Disorder, Sensory Integration Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Yoga intervention
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 29 Jun 2024to 30 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
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
- Being between 7 and 11 years of age
- Having a diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder according to DSM-5 criteria
- Attending school
Who cannot join
- Having any comorbid neurological, psychiatric, or orthopedic diagnosis
- Currently participating in an occupational therapy or physiotherapy program
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Yoga Intervention for Improving Sensory, Motor, Cognitive Skills, and Reducing Perceived Stress in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder
This clinical study aims to investigate the effects of yoga on children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). DCD is a condition that can make it difficult for children to perform everyday activities, as it affects their ability to plan movements, maintain balance, and coordinate their actions. Children with DCD may also experience challenges related to attention, perception, and coping with stress.
The main purpose of this study is to examine whether a structured yoga program can improve children's sensory (how they perceive and process information from their environment), motor (movement and coordination), and cognitive (attention, planning, and problem-solving) skills, as well as reduce their perceived stress levels. Yoga is a holistic approach that includes breathing exercises, body awareness, balance activities, and relaxation techniques, which may support both physical and mental well-being.
Read more
The hypothesis of the study is that children with DCD who participate in the yoga program will show greater improvements in sensory-motor and cognitive skills and experience lower levels of perceived stress compared to those who do not participate or who receive standard support. Regular yoga practice is expected to help children become more aware of their bodies, perform movements more effectively, and gain greater independence in daily activities.
The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the development of intervention programs for children with DCD and to provide evidence on whether yoga can be an effective complementary approach to support their overall development.
- Conditions
- Development Coordination Disorder, Motor Coordination or Function; Developmental Disorder, Sensory Integration Disorder, Perceived Stres Level, Cognitive Ability General
- Being tested
- Yoga intervention
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Skills Disorders, Developmental Disabilities
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Yoga interventionOther
Participants assigned to the intervention group will receive a structured yoga program specifically designed for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. The intervention will be delivered over a period of 12 weeks, with one session per week, resulting in a total of 12 sessions. Each session will last approximately 40 minutes and will be conducted by a certified children's yoga instructor.
The yoga sessions will be administered in small groups of five participants to ensure individualized attention and active participation. The intervention program is designed to target sensory processing, motor coordination, cognitive functions, and emotional regulation through a combination of physical, breathing, and mindfulness-based activities.
Each session will consist of four structured components:
Warm-up (5 minutes):
This phase will include light physical activities such as running, jumping, stretching, and relaxation exercises. Breathing awareness exercises will also be introduced t
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Yoga Intervention Group | Experimental | Participants in this group will receive a structured yoga program designed for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. The program will include breathing exercises, body awareness activities, balance and coordination postures, and relaxation techniques. Sessions will be conducted by a trained professional, delivered in a consistent format, and adapted to the developmental needs of the children. The intervention aims to improve sensory processing, motor coordination, cognitive functions, and reduce perceived stress levels. Receives: Other: Yoga intervention |
| Control Group | No intervention | Participants in the control group will not receive any intervention following the initial assessment. They will be scheduled for a follow-up appointment, and post-intervention assessments will be conducted after 12 weeks. After the completion of the second assessment, the same yoga intervention applied to the intervention group will be offered to children in the control group to ensure they also benefit from the program. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test
The Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test was used and to assess the gross and fine motor skills of children between the ages of 4 years 5 months and 14 years 5 months. This initial version of the test consisted of 8 subtests and 46 items. Later, in 2005, the test was revised, and the total version (46 items) was revised by removing 14 items and adding 21 items (53 items) to create the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test 2 (BOT-2), which is suitable for individuals aged 4-21 years. BOT-2 includes four motor domains: fine motor control, hand coordination, body coordination, strength, and agility, and a total of eight subtests related to these domains. The highest possible score on this 53-item test is 320. A short formula of 14 items was created for this test, and then in 2010, the number of items was reduced to 12 and revised. The highest possible score during the test is 72.
Measured: at baseline (July 2024) and at 12 weeks (September 2024)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Structured Observations of Sensory Integration- Motor
Structured Observations of Sensory Integration- Motor is a standardized norm-referenced neuropsychiatric test of auditory-regional motor delivery based on Ayres Clinical Observations. The standardization included 1000 children aged between 5 and 14 years 11 months. SOSI-M consists of 14 clinical observations that assess proprioceptive, vestibular processing, motor planning, and postural control. Some of these clinical observations include Romberg test, single-leg standing, modified Schilder's arm extension test, extension against parts, ocular movements (vertical and horizontal), and diadochokinesis. The overall internal performance (Cronbach's alpha) value of the scale is between 0.66 and 0.84. The within-group overall performance value of the scale is 0.98.
Measured: at baseline (July 2024) and at 12 weeks (September 2024)
Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment-Children
This is a standardized test developed by Katz, Golstand, Bar-Ilan et al. (2007) to assess cognitive abilities in children aged 6-12 years. It includes 21 subtests across five domains: orientation, spatial perception, praxis, visual-auditory construction, and thinking processes. The praxis domain comprises three subtests: motor imitation, object use, and symbolic actions. Motor imitation evaluates posture imitation, sequential movements, and responses to verbal commands, with scoring from 0 to 2 based on accuracy; the child has 5 seconds to assume and correct the position. In object use, the child performs specific actions with given objects within 60 seconds, scored from 0 to 2 based on accuracy. In symbolic actions, the child first performs actions with objects and then without them, within 5 seconds, with scores ranging from 0 to 2 based on accuracy.
Measured: at baseline (July 2024) and at 12 weeks (September 2024)
Perceived Stress Scale in Children
Developed by Snoeren-Hoefnagels, the test consists of 9 items. This unidimensional scale has a 4-point Likert-type rating scale. The original scale was administered to 223 students (100 girls, 123 boys) aged 8-11 with an average age of 9.50. The Cronbach's Alpha internal consistency reliability coefficient of the scale was found to be .76 and the test-retest correlation was .79. The instructions for the Perceived Stress Scale in Children (8-11 Years) ask the child to answer how appropriate each item is for them when evaluating the past week. High scores on the scale questions indicate a high level of stress. In the scale, which does not contain any reverse items, the total scores obtained by individuals range from 0 to 27 points.
Measured: at baseline (July 2024) and at 12 weeks (September 2024)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Apr 2026
- Study start29 Jun 2024
- Primary completion29 Jun 2025
- Study completion30 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Development Coordination DisorderStudies 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
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Fenerbahce University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Hacettepe University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Selen Aydoner Bektas, Fenerbahce University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07547514
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024-52
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 7 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No