The Effect of Group Exercise in Children With Special Needs

The Effect of Group Exercise on Balance and Attention Level in Children With Special Needs

Thirty children with special needs were included in the study. Participants engaged in group exercises twice a week for four weeks, including warm-up and cool-down periods, with the goal of improving balance. The participants' balance was assessed using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test Short Form (Balance Parameters), Pediatric Balance Scale; functional mobility was evaluated using the Timed Up and Go Test, and attention level was assessed using the Stroop Test before and after the intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Developmental Disability; Child Autism
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Group Exercise

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Istanbul, Turkey
    • Marmara University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 6-15 years with special needs
• Able to walk independently

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with visual problems,
• Any orthopaedic, rheumatic or neurological problems affecting balance,
• Any contraindication to exercise

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• 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: Group Exercise

Other: Group Exercise; The children with special needs included in the study were included in group exercises for 45 minutes 2 days a week in groups of 10 children each. Group exercises were planned as balance and coordination exercises including warm-up and cool-down periods. In the warm-up and cool-down periods, counting in place and balance exercises were performed. The exercises included tasks such as side walking, tandem walking, walking on a balance board, walking in a figure 8, walking over obstacles, throwing a ball to the person next to him/her while passing through cones, and throwing a ball by jumping while passing through cones.The exercises were made more difficult by following a progressive method every 2 weeks. The exercises were performed in 3 sets of 5 repetitions under the supervision of a physiotherapist.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Competence Test Short Form Balance Subtest (Balance Subtest of BOT 2-KF)	Standing on the dominant leg on the balance board: The participant will be asked to stand on the balance board with his/her eyes open on his/her dominant foot, looking at the target, with his/her hands on his/her waist and the other leg parallel to the ground for 10 seconds. Scoring will be recorded as 0-0.9 s 0 points, 1-2.9 s 1 point, 3-5.9 s 2 points, 6-9.9 s 3 points and 10 s 4 points according to the duration of standing on one leg.; Tandem (heel-thumb) walking on the walking line: The participant will be asked to place his/her hands on his/her waist and walk along the walking line. When 6 steps are completed, the test is stopped. Steps that does not go beyond the line are evaluated. Scoring is done as 0 step 0 points, 1-2 steps 1 point, 3-4 steps 2 points, 5 steps 3 points and 6 steps 4 points.	Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Paediatric Balance Scale	The version consisting of 14 sections and each section scored between 0-4 is used to evaluate the balance status of the participants.	Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Functional Reach Test	The participant is asked to reach as far as he/she can horizontally at the level of a tape measure fixed to the wall with arms at 90 flexion. The test is repeated 3 times and the measurements are averaged.	Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Timed Up and Go Test	It will be applied to assess balance and functional ambulation. The participant is asked to get up from a chair, walk 3 metres, turn around and sit down again. The time it took to complete the test will be recorded.	Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Stroop Test	The Stroop Test is among the neuropsychological tests frequently used to assess attention level and executive functions in children. Participants' time to complete the test is recorded.	Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istanbul Gedik University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Gokce Kartal, PT, Marmara University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 27, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 15, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): April 25, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 3, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 3, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): April 9, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 9, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 3, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: balance; attention; developmental disability; group exercise
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Developmental Disabilities
• Other Study ID Numbers: 56365223-050.01.04-2023.13754

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