Abstract
Background Exercise interventions are recognized as an established therapeutic approach for children with DCD. This review aims to quantify the effectiveness of exercise interventions and examine the influence of potential moderating factors on outcomes. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and EBSCO from inception to November 1, 2025. All studies were rigorously screened based on predefined eligibility criteria. Risk of bias was assessed using ROB 2 and ROBINS-I. Effect sizes were calculated as Hedges’ g (g) and pooled under a random-effects model, and potential moderators were examined through subgroup and regression analyses. Results A total of 40 studies involving 1655 participants were included, of which 24 were eligible for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that exercise interventions significantly enhanced motor coordination (g = 1.06, 95 % CI [0.57, 1.55], I² = 86.7 %), fine motor skills (g = 0.50, 95 % CI [0.24, 0.76], I² = 32.4 %), hand–eye coordination (g = 1.12, 95 % CI [0.70, 1.54], I² = 71.6 %), and balance (g = 0.54, 95 % CI [0.20, 0.88], I² = 77.3 %) in children with DCD. Subgroup analyses identified intervention setting, intervention approach, and study design as key moderating factors influencing the outcomes. Meta-regression analysis revealed a significant negative association between improvements in fine motor skills and both intervention duration (β = –0.0728, I² = 0 %) and the total number of sessions (β = –0.0129, I² = 0 %). Conclusion This study confirms the efficacy of exercise interventions in enhancing motor coordination, fine motor skills, hand–eye coordination and balance in children with DCD. More rigorous experimental designs are needed to compare the effects of different intervention approaches and protocols, and to determine the optimal intervention dosage.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Volume
168
PubMed ID
41386176
Publication Title
Research in Developmental Disabilities
Publisher
Elsevier
School
Centre for Human Performance / School of Medical and Health Sciences
Funders
National Education Scientific Planning Projects (BLA230105)
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Peng, C., He, J., Xu, K., Wu, X., Wang, D., & Zhang, L. (2025). Effects of exercise interventions on motor coordination in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 168, 105184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2025.105184