Effects of Functional Training vs Dual-Task Training in School-Going Children

August 10, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Effects of Progressive Functional Training Versus Dual-Task Performance in School-Going Children

This study aims to compare the effects of Progressive Functional Training and Dual-Task Training on motor skills in school-going children. It focuses on improving balance, coordination, strength, and motor-cognitive integration. A randomized clinical trial will be conducted on children aged 6-12 years divided into two groups receiving different interventions for 4 weeks.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Motor skill development during childhood plays a vital role in physical fitness, academic participation, and overall functional independence. School-going children require adequate motor competence to perform daily activities, participate in sports, and adapt to increasingly complex physical and cognitive demands. Traditional physical education programs often focus on isolated physical skills, which may not fully address real-life multitasking requirements. Progressive functional training (PFT) emphasizes task-oriented, developmentally appropriate movements that mimic daily activities and progressively increase in difficulty. This approach helps improve fundamental motor skills, balance, coordination, and strength. In contrast, dual-task training (DTT) involves the simultaneous performance of motor and cognitive tasks, thereby enhancing motor performance under divided attention and improving motor-cognitive integration. Although both training methods have shown positive effects on motor skills, limited evidence exists comparing their effectiveness in school-going children. Therefore, this study aims to compare the effects of progressive functional training versus dual-task training on motor skills in school-going children. This study will adopt a randomized clinical design. A total of 66 school-going children aged 6-12 years will be selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups: Group A (Progressive Functional Training) and Group B (Dual-Task Training). Baseline assessments of motor skills will be conducted using standardized tools such Bruin inks- as the Ossietzky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2), Pediatric Balance Scale, and Dual-Task Timed Up and Go Test. Group A will undergo progressive functional training focusing on balance, coordination, strength, and functional movement patterns. Group B will receive dual-task training involving motor activities combined with cognitive tasks. Both groups will receive training for 4 weeks, with sessions conducted 3 times per week. Post-intervention assessments will be performed using the same outcome measures. The collected data will be statistically analyzed to compare pre- and post test outcomes within and between groups.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
66

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 54660
        • Riphah International University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • School going children aged 6-12 years ,
  • Both gender ,Ability to understand and follow simple verbal instruction ,
  • Typically developing children

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Visual or hearing issue ,
  • Recent injury or surgeries

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Progressive Functional Training Group
This program involves task-oriented exercises such as sit-to-stand, step-ups, reaching, jumping, and obstacle walking, with progressive increases in difficulty, speed, and resistance. It is performed for 30-40 minutes per session, three times per week for six weeks, including a 5-7 minute warm-up, 30 minutes of functional training, and a 5-8 minute cool-down. Training progresses from low-intensity activities in weeks 1-2 (e.g., sit-to-stand, walking, low step-ups, ball activities, and static balance) to moderate intensity in weeks 3-4 (e.g., squats with reach, tandem and obstacle walking, ball tasks, and dynamic balance), and high intensity in weeks 5-6 (e.g., lunges, jumping, agility drills, direction changes, and advanced balance tasks).
Other: progressive functional training
This program involves task-oriented exercises such as sit-to-stand, step-ups, reaching, jumping, and obstacle walking, with progressive increases in difficulty, speed, and resistance. It is performed for 30-40 minutes per session, three times per week for six weeks, including a 5-7 minute warm-up, 30 minutes of functional training, and a 5-8 minute cool-down. Training progresses from low-intensity activities in weeks 1-2 (e.g., sit-to-stand, walking, low step-ups, ball activities, and static balance) to moderate intensity in weeks 3-4 (e.g., squats with reach, tandem and obstacle walking, ball tasks, and dynamic balance), and high intensity in weeks 5-6 (e.g., lunges, jumping, agility drills, direction changes, and advanced balance tasks).
Active Comparator: Dual Task Performance Group
This program combines motor and cognitive tasks, such as walking while counting, balance with memory recall, and ball activities with verbal tasks, with gradually increasing cognitive complexity. It is performed for 30-40 minutes per session, three times per week for six weeks, to improve dual-task performance, attention, and executive function. Each session includes a 5-7 minute warm-up, followed by 30 minutes of dual-task training progressing from simple tasks (e.g., walking while counting forward, naming animals during balance) to moderate (e.g., counting backward, obstacle walking with naming tasks) and then complex activities (e.g., direction-change walking while counting by threes, hopping with verbal tasks, TUG with cognitive tasks). Sessions end with a 5-8 minute cool-down of relaxed walking, stretching, and breathing exercises.
Other: dual task performance
This program combines motor and cognitive tasks, such as walking while counting, balance with memory recall, and ball activities with verbal tasks, with gradually increasing cognitive complexity. It is performed for 30-40 minutes per session, three times per week for six weeks, to improve dual-task performance, attention, and executive function. Each session includes a 5-7 minute warm-up, followed by 30 minutes of dual-task training progressing from simple tasks (e.g., walking while counting forward, naming animals during balance) to moderate (e.g., counting backward, obstacle walking with naming tasks) and then complex activities (e.g., direction-change walking while counting by threes, hopping with verbal tasks, TUG with cognitive tasks). Sessions end with a 5-8 minute cool-down of relaxed walking, stretching, and breathing exercises.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency
Time Frame: The BOT-2 Short Form was administered at baseline and after the 6-week intervention. Each assessment required approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Used for composites and overall proficiency, ranging from a scale of 20 to 80 . Assesses gross and fine motor skills Subtests include: Balance, running, speed and agility, Bilateral coordination, Strength Suitable for children aged 4-21 years, widely used, reliable, and valid for school aged children
The BOT-2 Short Form was administered at baseline and after the 6-week intervention. Each assessment required approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
digit span test
Time Frame: Time Frame: Assessed at baseline (Week 1) and after 6 weeks of intervention (Week 6).
This framework assesses fundamental motor skills in children aged 3-10, including locomotor skills (running, jumping, hopping) and object control skills (throwing, catching, kicking), commonly used in school-based interventions. Cognitive dual-task performance is measured using the Digit Span Test (forward and backward) to assess attention and working memory during concurrent motor tasks, and the Verbal Fluency Test (animal naming) to evaluate executive function and cognitive flexibility, with outcomes based on correct recall sequences and number of words generated in 60 seconds.
Time Frame: Assessed at baseline (Week 1) and after 6 weeks of intervention (Week 6).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Riphah International University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Hafsa Aslam, MS-PT, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 16, 2026

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 5, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 10, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 10, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 10, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • REC/RCR&AHS/25/0769

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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