Effects of Aerobic Exercises on Dual-task Performance and Motor Skills in Children With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Cognition refers to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and understanding, encompassing aspects such as thinking, knowing, remembering, judging, and problem-solving. These processes include attention, memory, executive functions, perception, language, and visuospatial skills. In children, cognitive development is critical for academic success, social interactions, and daily living activities. In the context of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in children, cognitive processes may be less efficient or slower than in typically developing peers.This can affect their ability to perform tasks that require simultaneous cognitive and motor functions, known as dual tasks. Aerobic exercises are known to provide numerous cognitive and physical benefits, but their specific impact on children with MCI has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of study is to analyze the effects of aerobic exercises on dual-task performance and motor skills in children with mild cognitive impairment.The current study will be randomized control trial; data will be collected from Government special education center Johar Town. The study will include patients equally divided into two groups and randomly allocated. Inclusion criteria for the study will be both genders, having age between7 to 12, children with IQ ranging from 50-70, who are cooperative. Children with Hearing or vision impairment, any neurological/musculoskeletal disorder or already involved in an intervention program will also be excluded from the study. Experimental group will perform a structured aerobic exercise program and control group will do its daily routine activities. The intervention group will receive 3 sessions per week for 12weeks. Each session lasted 45 min on average. Outcomes to be analyzed will be dual-task performance and motor skills. Tools used for data collection will be Timed Up and Go, Single Leg Stance, Tandem Stance, and 30-second Sit-to-Stand tests and TGMD-2. Data will be analyzed through SPSS version 26.00.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Cognitive Impairment
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Light Physical Activity Plan; Other: Aerobic Exercise

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 26
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Imran Amjad, Phd; Phone Number: 03324390125; Email: imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Fareeha Kausar, PP-DPT; Phone Number: 03216758180; Email: fareeha.kausar@riphah.edu.pk

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, 53400
      • Recruiting
      • Hands on Care, Wapda Town
      • Contact: Fareeha Kausar, PP-DPT; Phone Number: 03216758180; Email: fareeha.kausar@riphah.edu.pk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• IQ from 50 to 70
• Who can easily understand instructions
• Both genders are included

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hearing or vision impairment
• Any neurological/musculoskeletal disorder
• Already involved in an intervention program

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Aerobic Exercise	Other: Aerobic Exercise; Warm-Up (5 minutes): Marching in Place: 2 minutes of marching to elevate heart rate. Arm Circles: 1 minute of small and large arm circles. Side Steps with Arm Swings: 2 minutes of stepping side to side with gentle arm swings. Main Exercise Routine (35 minutes): Walking/Jogging Intervals: 10 minutes alternating between 1 minute of walking and 1 minute of jogging. Jumping rope: 10 minutes of rope jumping. As a pre-determined routine to maintain consistency. Aerobic Games: 10 minutes of structured games like: Simon Says: Incorporating aerobic movements like jumping jacks, running in place, etc.; Obstacle Course: Pre-planned course involving stepping over objects, crawling, and balancing. Ball Activities: 5 minutes of activities such as throwing and catching, or dribbling a ball around cones.; Cool Down (5 minutes) Stretching: Gentle stretching of major muscle groups, holding each stretch for 20-30 seconds.
Experimental: Light Physical Activity Plan	Other: Light Physical Activity Plan; Warm-Up (5 minutes): Gentle Walking: 2 minutes at a slow pace. Light Arm Movements: 1 minute of gently moving arms up and down. Side Steps: 2 minutes of gentle side stepping. 2. Main Activity Routine (35 minutes): Stretching Exercises: 10 minutes of gentle stretching, focusing on flexibility. Balance Activities: 10 minutes of activities such as: Standing on One Leg: Holding balance for 10-15 seconds on each leg. Heel-to-Toe Walking: Walking in a straight line, placing the heel of one foot directly in front of the toes of the other foot. 3. Light Coordination Games: 10 minutes of low-intensity activities like: Passing a Ball: Gently passing a ball back and forth with a partner. Basic Catch and Throw: Simple throw and catch exercises with a soft ball. Guided Relaxation: 5 minutes of guided relaxation techniques, including deep breathing and visualization. 4. Cool Down (5 minutes) Gentle Stretching: Stretching major muscle groups, holding each stretch for 20-30 second

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Timed Up and Go	In this test, the child wears their usual footwear and is instructed to stand up from a chair, walk a designated distance of 3 meters at a comfortable and safe pace, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down. The time taken to complete the task 10 is recorded in seconds using a stopwatch.	Baseline and 12th week
Single Leg Stance	During the test, the child is instructed to lift one leg and stand unassisted, maintaining this position for as long as possible. The duration until the foot touches the ground is timed in seconds using a stopwatch.	Baseline and 12th week
Tandem Stance	In the Tandem Stance test, the child is asked to stand with one foot directly in front of the other in a heel-to-toe position, thereby narrowing the base of support to assess static balance. The test ends when the child can no longer maintain this position, and the duration is timed in seconds using a stopwatch. If the child can hold the tandem stance for 30 seconds, the test is not repeated.	Baseline and 12th week
30-second Sit-to-Stand tests	In this test, the child is instructed to stand up from a chair (seat height 43 cm) with a straight back and no armrests, keeping their arms crossed over their chest, then sit back down and repeat this for 30 seconds. The number of times the child stands up in 30 seconds is recorded.	Baseline and 12th week
TGMD-2	The TGMD-2 (Test of Gross Motor Development, Second Edition) is a widely used assessment tool designed to evaluate the gross motor skills of children. It assesses both locomotor (movement from one place to another) and object control (handling and manipulation of objects) skills.	Baseline and 12th week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Fareeha Kausar, PP-DPT, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Vuijk PJ, Hartman E, Scherder E, Visscher C. Motor performance of children with mild intellectual disability and borderline intellectual functioning. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2010 Nov;54(11):955-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2010.01318.x. Epub 2010 Sep 20.
• Chen CY, Lawlor JP, Duggan AK, Hardy JB, Eaton WW. Mild cognitive impairment in early life and mental health problems in adulthood. Am J Public Health. 2006 Oct;96(10):1772-8. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2004.057075.
• Buyukcelik NM, Yigit S, Turhan B. An investigation of the effects of dual-task balance exercises on balance, functional status and dual-task performance in children with Down syndrome. Dev Neurorehabil. 2023 Jul;26(5):320-327. doi: 10.1080/17518423.2023.2233031. Epub 2023 Jul 4.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 20, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 20, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 4, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 4, 2025
• Last Verified: March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Mild Cognitive Impairment; Aerobic exercises; Dual-task performance
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Cognitive Dysfunction
• Other Study ID Numbers: Riphah/G-III/RCR&AHS/B42-176

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