Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

This single-center, single-blind, prospective randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of a video-assisted core stabilization exercise program (Fun-Core) on motor competence, balance, and gait in children with DCD. Children who meet the eligibility criteria will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group will participate in a video-assisted, story-based, child-friendly Fun-Core exercise program delivered through a web-based platform, whereas the control group will receive the same core stabilization exercises as a home-based program provided in an illustrated brochure format. In both groups, the intervention will last 8 weeks, with exercises performed 3 days per week for approximately 30 minutes per session. The exercise program will consist of two progressive levels, with Level 1 performed during weeks 1-4 and Level 2 during weeks 5-8. Progression to Level 2 will depend on correct and pain-free performance of the exercises, completion of at least 75% of the planned sessions, and absence of exercise-related adverse events. The primary outcome will be motor competence, assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Third Edition (MABC-3). The MABC-3 evaluates motor performance across three domains: Manual Dexterity, Aiming and Catching, and Balance. Raw performance scores are converted into age-adjusted standard scores and percentile ranks, with higher scores indicating better motor performance. Secondary outcomes will include balance, functional mobility, participation, health-related quality of life, and static and dynamic pedobarographic parameters. Balance will be evaluated using the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), a 14-item scale scored from 0 to 56, with higher scores representing better balance performance. Functional mobility will be evaluated using the Modified Timed Up and Go Test (M-TUG) by recording the time required to stand from a chair, complete the specified mobility task, return, and sit down; shorter completion times indicate better functional mobility. Participation and environmental factors will be evaluated using the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY), a parent-reported measure assessing participation across home, school, and community settings. Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0), including physical, emotional, social, and school functioning domains, using child self-report and parent proxy-report forms. Scores are transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life. Gait and plantar loading characteristics will additionally be evaluated using static and dynamic pedobarographic assessment with a pressure platform integrated with FreeStep 2.0 software. Static assessment will include plantar pressure distribution, right-to-left load distribution, forefoot-to-rearfoot load distribution, and center of pressure (CoP) parameters. Dynamic assessment during walking at a self-selected natural speed will include plantar pressure distribution, maximum plantar pressure, load transfer patterns, and gait-line parameters. All outcome assessments will be performed by an investigator blinded to group allocation at baseline (Week 0), immediately after the 8-week intervention (Week 8). During the intervention period, participants will be contacted weekly to monitor exercise adherence, general health status, and possible adverse events. Eligible participants will be children aged 5-14 years who meet the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for DCD and have an MABC-3 Total Standard Score corresponding to the 16th percentile or below. Exclusion criteria will include treatment for motor problems within the previous 6 months; a neurological disorder that primarily explains the motor difficulties; intellectual disability that substantially interferes with participation in assessments or exercises; moderate-to-severe autism spectrum disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or behavioral problems that interfere with participation; orthopedic deformities preventing exercise; previous lumbar or lower-extremity surgery; moderate-to-severe visual or hearing impairment; and epilepsy or another uncontrolled neurological condition.

This study aims to investigate the validity of the Virtual Egg Test (VET) for the assessment of manual dexterity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy and developmental coordination disorder (experimental group), including a typically developing group for the collection and establishment of normative values (control group). The clinical site where the study procedures for the experimental group will be conducted is the IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris in Calambrone (Pisa), Italy. Participants of both sexes and of any ethnicity, aged between 6 and 21 years at the time of recruitment, will be selected according to specific inclusion criteria. The study protocol consists of two assessment sessions scheduled at an interval of at least 3 days and no more than 5 days. During the first assessment session (T0), standardized and non-standardized assessment procedures will be administered. First, the Virtual Egg Test (VET) will be administered using the Virtual Egg (VE). The VE is a parallelepiped-shaped device equipped with an internal magnetic mechanism that maintains the walls of the object in a predefined, non-collapsed position. When the grip force exceeds the attractive force between the two magnets, the external walls move closer together, causing the "VE to break" reversibly. The sensorized platform comprises three distinct sensitive areas: the starting position and two target areas for placing the VEs. The areas are separated by a 6-cm-high barrier. Subsequently, standardized clinical assessment tests will be administered. During the second assessment session (T1), the Virtual Egg Test (VET) will be administered, followed by a feasibility questionnaire specifically developed for this study regarding its use. The questionnaire will be completed by both the participant and the clinical staff.

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.

This study looks at whether therapeutic climbing - indoor climbing activities guided by therapists - can help children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). DCD is a condition where children have difficulty with motor skills and participation in everyday activities, and sometimes confidence in physical activities. The climbing program is based on a problem-solving approach called CO-OP (Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance), in which children learn strategies to achieve goals.

The PUREMIND OS1/OS2 study is a multinational, prospective, longitudinal observational study designed to identify early neurophysiological, biological, environmental, and psychosocial markers associated with neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions from infancy through young adulthood. Observational Study 1 (OS1) follows infants and toddlers at high risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to discover biomarkers predictive of later clinical diagnosis, using EEG, fNIRS, psychometric assessments, and biological samples. Observational Study 2 (OS2) includes children, adolescents, and young adults with ASD, ADHD, or Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) to identify environmental and biological factors causally linked to anxiety and depression symptoms, and to support the development of personalised criteria for evidence-based interventions. Approximately 800 participants will be recruited across 10 international clinical sites. The study aims to generate multi-domain data to support predictive modelling and inform future personalised mental-health prevention strategies across childhood and young adulthood.

The present investigation is configured as a multicenter clinical study in a within-group pilot phase. This study aims to investigate primarily the feasibility of use and effectiveness of a treatment for upper limb function in children aged 4 to 18 years with congenital and acquired neuromotor disorders through a new portable robotic system, called PhiCube, designed for bilateral neuromotor rehabilitation of the upper limbs in subjects with neuromotor disorders. In order to specifically investigate also the potential impact of PhiCube on movement planning aspects, the study will also involve a small group of children aged 4 to 18 years with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Before (PreT0 and T0) and after (T1 and T2) treatment, standardized assessment tests will be administered. Regarding the investigation objectives reported above, the primary outcome measure will be the Melbourne Assessment-2 (MA2), a standardized, valid and reliable instrument for evaluating the quality of upper limb movement in children with neurological deficits, capable of measuring four elements of movement quality: range of motion, accuracy, dexterity and fluency. As secondary outcome measures, Abilhand-Kids has been chosen, a brief questionnaire that measures 21 main daily bimanual activities completed by the parent or caregiver, and various subtests and questionnaires aimed at evaluating the neuropsychological processes involved and the effects related to auditory feedback perception. The treatment will have a total duration of approximately 3 months and will be organized in 3 weekly sessions lasting 45 minutes each, to reach a total of 30. Descriptive statistics of the clinical and technological variables obtained in the evaluation and rehabilitation phases will be calculated. Subsequently, treatment efficacy analyses through the robotic device are planned, comparing pre-post clinical variables. All collected data will finally be analyzed in order to compare the rehabilitative efficacy of the device with respect to the different groups of participants identified based on diagnostic profile.