IMU-based Assessment of Motor Control in a Population of Young Subjects With Paramorphisms and Dysmorphisms (MOTOR-CHILD)

Evaluation of Motor Control During Developmental Age in Young Patients With Paramorphisms and Dysmorphisms Using Inertial Measurement Units

While various complex pathologies of the developmental age, such as Infantile Cerebral Palsy or Neuromuscular Diseases, are notoriously considered causes of alteration of locomotor development, it is scarcely known whether conditions much more frequent in the pediatric population, the so-called "Paramorphisms or Dysmorphisms", may be associated with more or less noticeable changes in locomotor development.

On a few studies, flat feet and hyperlaxity has been correlated with a motor control delay or poorer motor performance, based on complex clinical tests or on stereophotogrammetry movement analysis.

Although promising, these preliminary studies, in addition to not providing information on the possible influence of other paramorphisms, such as varus and valgus of the knees, do not provide conclusive indications.

The aim of this study is to investigate, through clinical tests and wearable inertial units, the motor control of a pediatric population affected by Paramorphisms or Dysmorphisms and to compare them with a population of healthy controls, matched by age, taken from the recently developed control data set from Bisi and Stagni.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Scoliosis Idiopathic; Genu Varum; Flat Feet; Hyperlordosis; Hyperkyphosis; Laxity of Ligament; Genu Valgus; Cavus Foot; Varus; Talipes; Valgus, Talipes; Angular Limb Deformity
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Clinical tests and motor control evaluation using Inertial Measurement Units

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 151
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Bologna, Italy, 40136
    • IRCCS-Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 6 years to 17 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Born at term
• Without known delay in motor development
• Finding of one or more paramorphisms or dysmorphisms of the developmental age (flat or cavus foot, valgus or varus talipes, valgus or varus knee, scoliotic attitude or scoliosis, hyperkyphosis or hyperlordosis, generalized or focused hyperlaxity, heterometry of the AAII, torsional defects AAII)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Preterm birth
• Diagnosis of pathologies compromising motor control (Infantile Cerebral Palsy, Neuromuscular Diseases, Spina Bifida, Arthrogryposis, Genetic Syndromes)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Paramorphisms/dysmorphisms of spine and/or lower limbs; Only one arm of patients assessed for motor competence and balance without controls	Diagnostic test: Clinical tests and motor control evaluation using Inertial Measurement Units; Each patient is evaluated using clinical tests (Movement ABC2, Test of Motor Competence), a screening questionnaire (DCD-Q), and wearable Inertial Measurement Units to assess balance and motor control during a Natural Walking and Tandem Walking test.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evaluation and measurement of balance	Evaluation of balance using clinical tests ( Movement ABC2).	Baseline
Evaluation and measurement motor competence	Evaluation of motor competence using clinical tests (Test of Motor Competence, ).	Baseline
Measurement of balance	Measurement of balance assessing synchronicity from data obtained with Inertial Measurement Units.	Baseline
Measurement of motor competence	Measurement motor competence assessing automaticity from data obtained with Inertial Measurement Units.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 16, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 20, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 14, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 28, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): March 10, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 23, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 22, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Talipes; Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Nutrition Disorders; Joint Diseases; Spinal Diseases; Musculoskeletal Abnormalities; Congenital Abnormalities; Deficiency Diseases; Malnutrition; Spinal Curvatures; Lower Extremity Deformities, Congenital; Limb Deformities, Congenital; Foot Deformities; Foot Deformities, Acquired; Foot Deformities, Congenital; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Animal Diseases; Sheep Diseases; Talipes Cavus; Kyphosis; Flatfoot; Swayback; Joint Instability; Clubfoot; Genu Varum; Genu Valgum
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0004188

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No