Comparison of the Effects of Azerbaijani Dance-Based Exercises and Hopping Exercises on Balance, Motor Skills, and Quality of Life in Children with Mild Intellectual Disabilities
Comparison of the Effects of Azerbaijani Dance-Based Exercises and Hopping Exercises on Balance, Motor Skills, and Quality of Life in Children with Mild Intellectual Disabilities
Design
Randomized clinical trial (RCT) with pretest‑posttest and control group.
Settings and conduct
The study will be conducted at the Sports Sciences Research Institute and will be carried out without blinding.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria included a diagnosis of mild intellectual disability (IQ = 50–70) based on the DSM-5 criteria (determined by a trained psychologist), an age range of 7 to 10 years, the presence of mild balance impairment based on obtaining a score below the normal range on the Berg Balance Scale, which was administered by a trained assessor, the ability to understand and perform the Y Balance Test and the Stork Stand Test for initial assessments, no history of severe musculoskeletal injury within the past six months, and the ability to understand and follow simple exercise instructions.
Exclusion criteria included lack of willingness of the child or parents to continue participation, absence from more than three training sessions, progressive neuromuscular diseases, occurrence of acute motor or balance impairment during the intervention period, and the use of medications that affect neuromuscular function and balance.
Intervention groups
This study includes three groups: two intervention groups and one control group. The first intervention group will receive rhythmic exercises based on Azerbaijani dance for 6 weeks, and the second intervention group will receive hopping exercises for 6 weeks. The third group will serve as the control group and will not receive any exercise intervention during the study period; they will only continue their usual daily activities.
Main outcome variables
Static and Dynamic Balance, Motor skills
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20221231056996N3
Registration date:2026-07-02, 1405/04/11
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-07-02, 1405/04/11
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-07-02, 1405/04/11
Registrant information
Name
Mohammadreza Seyedi
Name of organization / entity
Sport Sciences Research Institute
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 21 8874 7884
Email address
seyedi@ssrc.ac.ir
Recruitment status
Not yet recruiting
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-08-01, 1405/05/10
Expected recruitment end date
2026-10-02, 1405/07/10
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Comparison of the Effects of Azerbaijani Dance-Based Exercises and Hopping Exercises on Balance, Motor Skills, and Quality of Life in Children with Mild Intellectual Disabilities
Public title
Comparison of the Effects of Azerbaijani Dance Exercises and Hopping on Balance and Motor Skills in Children with Intellectual Disabilities
Purpose
Supportive
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Diagnosis of mild intellectual disability (IQ = 50–70) based on the DSM-5 criteria (performed by a trained psychologist using available clinical records).
Age range of 7 to 10 years
Presence of mild balance impairment based on obtaining a score below the normal range on the Berg Balance Scale (BBS).
Ability to understand and perform the Y Balance Test and the Stork Stand Test for initial assessments.
No history of severe musculoskeletal injury within the past six months.
Ability to understand and follow simple exercise instructions.
Exclusion criteria:
Lack of willingness of the child or parents to continue participation.
Absence from more than three training sessions.
Progressive neuromuscular diseases
Occurrence of acute motor or balance impairment during the intervention period.
Use of medications that affect neuromuscular function and balance.
Age
From 7 years old to 10 years old
Gender
Male
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
51
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
In this three-group study, after confirming the eligibility criteria, participants will be randomly assigned to three groups (two experimental groups and one control group) using simple randomization with an online random number generation software (such as Random Allocation Software or Sealed Envelope). To ensure allocation concealment, the randomization results will be placed in opaque, sealed envelopes, and until the intervention begins, neither the researcher nor the participants will be aware of the group assignments.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Research Ethics Committee of the Sport Sciences Research Institute
Street address
Motahhari st. MirEmad 5th
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1587958711
Approval date
2026-05-20, 1405/02/30
Ethics committee reference number
IR.SSRC.REC.1405.019
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Intellectual Disabilities
ICD-10 code
ICD-10 code description
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Static Balance
Timepoint
pre and post test evaluation
Method of measurement
Stork Balance Test
2
Description
Dynamic Balance
Timepoint
pre and post test evaluation
Method of measurement
Y Balance Test
3
Description
Motor Skills
Timepoint
pre and post test evaluation
Method of measurement
Lincoln–Oseretsky test
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
Azerbaijani dance-based exercise intervention group: The intervention for this group includes performing traditional Azerbaijani movement patterns such as Milli Yeriş, Qaçma, Sürüşdürmə and Sandarama accompanied by local music. Each session consists of 10 minutes of warm-up, 25 minutes of main rhythmic exercises, and 10 minutes of cool-down and breathing exercises. The intensity of the exercises will be progressively increased by enhancing coordination demands, altering the base of support, and using unstable surfaces such as balance discs and BOSU. These exercises will be performed for 6 weeks, with a frequency of 3 sessions per week.
Category
Rehabilitation
2
Description
Hopping exercise intervention group: The hopping protocol includes six movement patterns (lateral, forward–backward, four-corner, forward, figure-eight pathway, and combined patterns), which will be performed in 30-minute sessions. The intensity of the exercises will be progressively increased according to the children’s abilities and adaptation. These exercises will be conducted for 6 weeks, with a frequency of 3 sessions per week.
Category
Rehabilitation
3
Description
Control group: Participants in this group will not receive any exercise program and will continue their usual daily activities throughout the study period.