Movement therapy programme on children with mild learning difficulties
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN83899392 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN83899392 |
| Protocol serial number | N/A |
| Sponsor | Queen Margaret University (UK) |
| Funder | The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia) |
- Submission date
- 11/07/2012
- Registration date
- 26/07/2012
- Last edited
- 15/01/2016
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Movement therapy is the use of movement and dance to improve the mental and physical well-being of a person. Studies suggest that movement therapy can help children with learning difficulties. In Saudi Arabia, the use of movement therapy for children with learning difficulties is either non-existent or very limited. It is therefore important that a study be conducted to explore the usefulness of movement therapy compared with normal physical education programmes. The aim of this study is to investigate the value of a movement therapy programme for children with mild learning difficulties in primary schools in Saudi Arabia.
Who can participate?
Children aged between 6 and 9 with mild learning difficulties.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group participates in a movement therapy programme consisting of three sessions per week for 8 weeks. Each session lasts for 45 minutes, making a total of 135 minutes of therapy per week. The control group attends a similar number of sessions in a conventional physical education programme. After 8 weeks the participants’ perceptual-motor abilities and emotional well-being are assessed. There is also a follow-up 3 months later.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The movement therapy programme aims to improve the physical and psychological wellbeing of children with mild learning difficulties. The results will add to the body of knowledge already existent in this field and highlight the options of therapy that may improve the wellbeing and learning abilities of these children.
Where is the study run from?
Queen Margaret University (UK)
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September to December 2012
Who is funding the study?
The government of Saudi Arabia
Who is the main contact?
Dr Vassiliki Karkou
Contact information
Scientific
Queen Margaret University
Queen Margaret University Drive
Musselburgh
East Lothian
Edinburgh
EH21 6UU
United Kingdom
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | A study of the impact of a movement therapy programme on perceptual motor abilities and emotional wellbeing for children with mild learning difficulties in primary schools in Saudi Arabia |
| Study objectives | 1. What is the value of 12 week movement therapy programme regarding perceptual-motor abilities and emotional wellbeing for children (boys) with mild learning difficulties in primary schools in Saudi Arabia as perceived by the therapist, teachers, parents and children (boys)? 2. How does a 12 week movement therapy programme affect perceptual motor abilities children (boys) with mild learning difficulty compared to a control group with the same learning difficulties who do not follow the programme? 3. How does a 12 week movement therapy programme affect the emotional wellbeing of children (boys) with mild learning difficulty compared to a control group with the same learning difficulties who do not follow the programme? 4. What are relationships between perceptual motor abilities and emotional wellbeing? |
| Ethics approval(s) | Queen Margaret University Ethics Board, 14/06/2012 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Pupils who have mild learning difficulties |
| Intervention | The participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention (movement therapy) will consist of three sessions per week for the eight weeks. Each session will last for 45 minutes making a total of 135 minutes of therapy per week. The control groups will have a similar number of sessions which represents the number of classes in a regular physical education programme. Specifically this research will draw from the work of Marian Chace (1975) and further elaborated by Karkou (2006). |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Purdue perceptual-motor survey |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
No secondary outcome measures |
| Completion date | 15/12/2012 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 60 |
| Key inclusion criteria | The researcher will use existing records of the students provided by schools. It will consider various determinants, including number of pupils who have mild learning difficulties, their age, and health status (the results of medical examination). |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Children with no apparent problems 2. A low intelligence quotient (IQ) (below 50) 3. Deafness 4. Blindness |
| Date of first enrolment | 02/09/2012 |
| Date of final enrolment | 15/12/2012 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- Scotland
- Saudi Arabia
Study participating centre
EH21 6UU
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
15/01/2016: Plain English summary added.
