Effects of Different Dual-Task Exercises in Children With Mild Mental Retardation

Effects of Different Dual-Task Exercises on Motor and Cognitive Functions in Children With Mild Mental Retardation

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of motor-motor and motor-cognitive dual-task exercises applied to children with mild mental retardation on their functional mobility, balance, cognitive function, and quality of life.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Mental Retardation
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Motor-Motor Dual Task Exercise Group; Behavioral: Motor-Cognitive Dual Task Exercise Group; Behavioral: Control Group

Detailed Description

Physical activity is a cornerstone of health and social well-being across all age groups. It holds significant physical, psychological, and social importance throughout an individual's life. Particularly in childhood, physical activity plays a critical role in shaping growth and development, enhancing cognitive functions, and establishing healthy habits that persist into adulthood. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the importance of physical activity for all age groups, highlighting its positive effects on children's cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, bone health, mental health, cognitive functions, academic performance, and obesity prevention.

Children with mental retardation exhibit developmental delays across multiple domains compared to their typically developing peers. Mental retardation not only affects language, comprehension, learning, and socialization skills but also impairs motor abilities. These motor deficits contribute to reduced physical activity levels, increased sedentary behavior, and associated physical and psychological problems, which further restrict motor skill development. This cyclical relationship among mental retardation, motor function, and physical inactivity leads to decreased functionality, balance, strength, endurance, fitness, and flexibility. Consequently, children with mental retardation face challenges in daily activities and reduced quality of life.

In order to address these challenges, it is essential to implement exercise programs that target cognitive, social, and physical development in children with mental retardation. Performing daily movements often requires simultaneous execution of motor and cognitive tasks, known as dual-task activities. However, mental retardation significantly impairs the ability to perform such dual tasks. Existing literature indicates that dual-task interventions can improve balance, functional mobility, gait, and cognitive performance.

The current study aims to investigate the effects of dual-task exercise programs on motor and cognitive functions in children with mild mental retardation. Specifically, it examines whether motor-motor and motor-cognitive dual-task exercises improve these functions compared to a control group receiving standard walking and balance exercises. The intervention will be conducted over six weeks, with assessments performed before and after the program to measure motor skills, cognitive function, and quality of life.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 33
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Melike N AKGÖĞ, MScStudent; Phone Number: +90 535 548 69 73; Email: melikenurakgog@ogr.iuc.edu.tr
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Yıldız ANALAY AKBABA, AssocProfDr; Phone Number: 40169 +90 212 411 52 84; Email: yildizanalay@iuc.edu.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Istanbul, Turkey, 34000
    • Recruiting
    • Istanbul University Cerrahpasa
    • Contact: Yıldız ANALAY AKBABA, AssocProfDr; Phone Number: 40169 +90 212 411 52 84; Email: yildizanalay@iuc.edu.tr
    • Contact: İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa; Phone Number: 53101 +90 212 404 03 00; Email: lisansustuegitim@iuc.edu.tr
    • Principal Investigator: Melike N AKGÖĞ, MScStudent
    • Sub-Investigator: Yıldız ANALAY AKBABA, AssocProfDr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Obtaining parental consent
• Having an Intelligence Quotient between 51-70
• Having an educational diagnosis of mild mental retardation
• Being between the ages of 8-12
• Ability to understand Turkish instructions
• Ability to follow commands during the exercise program
• No additional disabilities that would prevent participation in the program

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having a metabolic or systemic disease
• Engaging in regular physical exercise
• Having visual or hearing impairments
• Presence of any condition that would interfere with compliance to assessment parameters

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: motor-motor dual task exercise group; While this group performs walking and balance exercises accompanied by a physiotherapist, it will perform motor tasks.	Behavioral: Motor-Motor Dual Task Exercise Group; Participants in this group will perform motor tasks (such as ball handling, throwing, holding) accompanied by physiotherapist. Exercises will last about 40 minutes, 2 days a week, 6 weeks.
Experimental: Motor-Cognitive Dual Task Exercise Group; While this group performs walking and balance exercises accompanied by a physiotherapist, it will perform cognitive tasks.	Behavioral: Motor-Cognitive Dual Task Exercise Group; This group will also do walking and balance exercises with the physiotherapist, while simultaneously doing cognitive tasks (rhythmic counting, saying color names, finding words, etc.). The exercises will last approximately 40 minutes, 2 days a week, for 6 weeks.
Placebo Comparator: Control Group; Standard walking and balance exercises will be given to the control group at home and followed by parents.	Behavioral: Control Group; Standard walking and balance exercises will be given to the control group at home and followed by parents. Exercises will last about 40 minutes, 2 days a week, 6 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Berg Balance Scale (BBS)	The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), used to assess functional balance in children during daily activities, is a highly reliable measurement tool. It is an adapted version of the Berg Balance Scale specifically designed for children. The scale consists of 14 items evaluating functional movements such as standing up, picking up an object from the floor, transferring, balancing on one foot, and sitting. Each item is scored on a scale from 0 to 4, with 4 indicating the ability to perform the task independently. The maximum score is 56. Scores between 0-20 indicate poor balance, 21-40 indicate acceptable balance, and 41-56 indicate good balance.	6 weeks
Timed Up and Go Test	Description: The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) is used to assess functional mobility by measuring walking speed, postural control, and balance. The test involves standing up from a standard-height chair without armrests, walking a distance of 3 meters, turning around, walking back to the chair, and sitting down. Participants perform one practice trial followed by three test trials, with the average time recorded in seconds. A shorter duration indicates better functional mobility and balance.	6 weeks
Tandem Walking Test	Description: The Tandem Walking Test is used to assess dynamic balance, a function primarily controlled by the cerebellum. Participants are instructed to walk 10 steps in a straight line, placing the heel of one foot directly in front of the toes of the other foot with each step, minimizing the base of support. The time taken to complete the 10 steps is recorded, and a shorter time indicates better dynamic balance.	6 weeks
Stroop Test	Description: The Stroop Test is a neuropsychological assessment that measures cognitive processing speed, selective attention, response inhibition, and cognitive flexibility-functions associated with the frontal lobe. It includes four cards, each containing six rows with four items per row. Participants are required to name the color of the ink used rather than the word itself, evaluating their ability to inhibit habitual responses and adapt to cognitive interference.	6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL)	The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), developed by Varni et al., is a validated tool used to assess health-related quality of life in children aged 2 to 18. The scale consists of four subdomains: physical, emotional, social, and school functioning. It provides a total score, a physical health summary score, and a psychosocial health summary score (derived from emotional, social, and school subscales). Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, then transformed into a 0-100 scale, where higher scores indicate better perceived quality of life.	6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Melike N AKGÖĞ, MScStudent, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 15, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 5, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 10, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 11, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 11, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): June 19, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 19, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 11, 2025
• Last Verified: June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Rehabilitation; Balance; Cognitive Function; mental retardation; Motor Function; physiotherapy and Rehabilitation; Dual-Task Exercise
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Intellectual Disability
• Other Study ID Numbers: IUCAkgog001

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual Participant Data (IPD) will not be shared due to privacy concerns and the sensitive nature of the data involving children with mild mental retardation. Additionally, sharing may be restricted to protect participant confidentiality and comply with ethical approvals. Data may be made available upon reasonable request and after necessary approvals to qualified researchers.

Drug and device information, study documents

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