Play-Based Motor Training in Children Aged 7-10 Years (PBMT-DC)

October 2, 2026 updated by: Zinat Ebrahimi, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj

Effects of an 8-Week Play-Based Motor Training Program on Motor Competence, Cognitive Test Performance, and Parent-Rated Executive Function in Children Aged 7-10 Years: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled study evaluated the effects of an 8-week structured play-based motor training program on motor competence in children (boys and girls) aged 7-10 years. Eighty eligible participants (40 boys and 40 girls) were individually randomized in a 1:1 ratio to an intervention group or a usual physical-education control group. The intervention consisted of 24 play-based motor-training sessions delivered three times per week for 60 minutes, whereas the control group continued usual physical education twice per week for 40 minutes. The primary outcome was motor competence assessed using the MABC-2 total score. Cognitive test performance measured using the Kay Cognitive-Diagnostic Test and parent-rated executive-function difficulties measured using the BRIEF Parent Form were exploratory secondary outcomes. Posttest outcomes were compared between groups using ANCOVA with the corresponding baseline score as a covariate. This study record was created retrospectively after completion of the study.

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

The study was conducted during the 2025-2026 academic year in Dongchuan District, Yunnan Province, China. The sampling frame comprised approximately 100 children (50 boys and 50 girls) from four eligible classes across two primary schools. One hundred children were randomly selected by lottery for eligibility assessment. Twenty children were excluded before allocation: twelve because of physical or motor conditions that did not meet eligibility requirements, six because parental consent was not provided, and two because child assent was not obtained.

The remaining 80 eligible participants (40 boys and 40 girls) were individually randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention or control group using a computer-generated random allocation sequence. Allocation was concealed using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes prepared independently and opened after completion of baseline assessments.

The intervention group received an 8-week structured play-based motor-training program comprising 24 sessions, with three 60-minute sessions per week. Sessions included social interaction, warm-up, play-based motor activities, cool-down, and feedback. Main activities included coordinated movement with children's rhymes, animal-imitation games, running, jumping, throwing, rolling, and ball activities. The control group continued usual physical education twice weekly for approximately 40 minutes per session.

MABC-2 and Kay assessments were conducted by an independent trained assessor blinded to group allocation. Parents completing the BRIEF were not blinded. The primary outcome was the MABC-2 total score. Kay total score and BRIEF mean item score were treated as exploratory secondary outcomes. All 80 randomized participants completed posttest assessment. No serious or intervention-related adverse events were reported.

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.
80

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

  • China
    • Yunnan
      • Dongchuan, Yunnan, China, 654100
        • Dongchuan, Yunnan, China

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

7 years to 10 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Children aged 7-10 years
  • Enrolled in one of the eligible primary-school classes included in the study sampling frame
  • Able to participate in regular school physical-education and play-based motor activities
  • Written informed consent provided by a parent or legal guardian Child assent provided

Exclusion Criteria:

  • A physical or motor condition that prevented safe or effective participation in the intervention or assessments
  • Parental or guardian consent not provided
  • Child assent not provided

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: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

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: Structured Play-Based Motor Training

Participants received an 8-week structured play-based motor-training program consisting of three 60-minute sessions per week (24 sessions; 1,440 planned minutes). Each session included 5 minutes of social/introductory activity, 5 minutes of warm-up, 40 minutes of play-based motor activities, 5 minutes of cool-down, and 5 minutes of feedback.
Behavioral: Structured Play-Based Motor Training Program

Participants in the intervention arm received an 8-week structured play-based motor training program delivered three times per week for 60 minutes per session, for a total of 24 sessions. Each session followed a standardized 60-minute format consisting of 5 minutes of social/introductory interaction, 5 minutes of warm-up activities, 40 minutes of structured play-based motor activities, 5 minutes of cool-down, and 5 minutes of feedback. The main activity component included coordinated movements accompanied by children's rhymes, animal-imitation games, and fundamental motor activities such as running, jumping, throwing, rolling, and simple ball-handling tasks. Activities were delivered in a game-based format and emphasized active participation, movement exploration, coordination, and repeated practice of fundamental movement skills. The intervention replaced the participants' usual physical-education sessions during the study period.
Active Comparator: Usual Physical Education

Participants continued their usual school physical-education program consisting of two approximately 40-minute sessions per week, including general fitness activities, running, stretching, and simple recreational games, without the structured play-based motor-training protocol.
Behavioral: Usual Physical Education

Participants in the control arm continued their usual school physical-education program throughout the 8-week study period. Usual physical education was delivered twice per week for approximately 40 minutes per session and included general fitness activities, running, stretching, and simple recreational games. The control program did not include the structured play-based motor training protocol, the standardized 5+5+40+5+5 session format, or the systematic motor-practice activities used in the intervention arm. Control sessions were scheduled separately from the intervention sessions, and control participants did not observe the structured intervention activities.

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
MABC-2 Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline and approximately 9 weeks after baseline (one week after completion of the 8-week intervention)

Motor competence was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (MABC-2), using the age-appropriate Age Band 2 procedures. The MABC-2 total score was used as the primary motor-performance outcome. Higher scores indicate better motor performance. The primary statistical comparison used posttest scores adjusted for the corresponding baseline score using ANCOVA.
Baseline and approximately 9 weeks after baseline (one week after completion of the 8-week intervention)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Kay Cognitive-Diagnostic Test Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline and approximately 9 weeks after baseline

Cognitive test performance was assessed using the Kay Cognitive-Diagnostic Test. Five subtests assessed concept formation, symbolic thinking, socialization of thought, visual-motor perception, and short-term attention/psychomotor speed. The total score ranges theoretically from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better performance. A translated Chinese version was used without formal age-specific validation; therefore, this outcome was considered exploratory.
Baseline and approximately 9 weeks after baseline
BRIEF Parent-Form Mean Item Score
Time Frame: Baseline and approximately 9 weeks after baseline

Executive-function difficulties were assessed using the 86-item Chinese parent form of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Items were rated from 1 (never) to 3 (often), and the mean item score was calculated across the 86 items. Higher scores indicate greater parent-rated executive-function difficulties. The same parent or caregiver completed the questionnaire at baseline and posttest. This was an exploratory secondary outcome.
Baseline and approximately 9 weeks after baseline

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.
Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Islamic Azad University of Mashhad

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.
February 15, 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.
April 20, 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 7, 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).
August 9, 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 17, 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 19, 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.
October 5, 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.
October 2, 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.
  • PBMT-DONGCHUAN-2025

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data are not publicly available because of ethical and confidentiality restrictions. Requests for access to de-identified data may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the corresponding author, subject to approval by the relevant institutional and ethics authorities and applicable confidentiality requirements.

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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