Effects of School-Based Physical Training on Cognitive Function and Physical Fitness in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

This controlled intervention study investigated the effects of a 12-week school-based physical training program on cognitive function and physical fitness in children with probable developmental coordination disorder (pDCD). A total of 116 children with pDCD and 60 typically developing (TD) children underwent pre- and post-intervention assessments. The training group (TG) and TD group participated in the exercise intervention, whereas the control group (CG) did not receive training. Cognitive outcomes included executive function and mental rotation performance, while physical fitness outcomes included standing broad jump (SBJ), 50 m sprint, and 50 m × 8 shuttle run performance. Baseline findings demonstrated significantly lower cognitive and motor performance among children with pDCD compared with TD children. Significant group-dependent improvements were observed following the intervention. Children with pDCD demonstrated significant gains in executive function, mental rotation performance, sprint ability, and lower-limb explosive strength, with greater cognitive improvements than TD children in several domains. These findings support the beneficial role of structured school-based physical activity programs in improving cognitive and physical performance in children with pDCD.