The Effects of Yoga on Sensory, Motor, Cognitive Skills, and Perceived Stress in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder

Summary

This clinical study aims to investigate the effects of yoga on children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). DCD is a condition that can make it difficult for children to perform everyday activities, as it affects their ability to plan movements, maintain balance, and coordinate their actions. Children with DCD may also experience challenges related to attention, perception, and coping with stress.

The main purpose of this study is to examine whether a structured yoga program can improve children's sensory (how they perceive and process information from their environment), motor (movement and coordination), and cognitive (attention, planning, and problem-solving) skills, as well as reduce their perceived stress levels. Yoga is a holistic approach that includes breathing exercises, body awareness, balance activities, and relaxation techniques, which may support both physical and mental well-being.

The hypothesis of the study is that children with DCD who participate in the yoga program will show greater improvements in sensory-motor and cognitive skills and experience lower levels of perceived stress compared to those who do not participate or who receive standard support. Regular yoga practice is expected to help children become more aware of their bodies, perform movements more effectively, and gain greater independence in daily activities.

The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the development of intervention programs for children with DCD and to provide evidence on whether yoga can be an effective complementary approach to support their overall development.

Conditions

• Development Coordination Disorder
• Motor Coordination or Function; Developmental Disorder
• Sensory Integration Disorder
• Perceived Stres Level
• Cognitive Ability General

Interventions

OTHER

Yoga intervention

Participants assigned to the intervention group will receive a structured yoga program specifically designed for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. The intervention will be delivered over a period of 12 weeks, with one session per week, resulting in a total of 12 sessions. Each session will last approximately 40 minutes and will be conducted by a certified children's yoga instructor. The yoga sessions will be administered in small groups of five participants to ensure individualized attention and active participation. The intervention program is designed to target sensory processing, motor coordination, cognitive functions, and emotional regulation through a combination of physical, breathing, and mindfulness-based activities. Each session will consist of four structured components: Warm-up (5 minutes): This phase will include light physical activities such as running, jumping, stretching, and relaxation exercises. Breathing awareness exercises will also be introduced t

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hacettepe University

  collaborator OTHER

• Fenerbahce University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

7 Years

Max Age

11 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-06-29

Primary Completion

2025-06-29

Completion

2025-12-30

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations