Journal of Sports and Motor Development and Learning
Scientific Journal

The Effect of Virtual Reality Training on Gross and Fine Motor Skills of Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under CC BY-NC 4.0 license

Authors

Foad Niknasab 1
Fazlollah Bagherzadeh 2
Mahmoud Sheikh 3
Davood Homanian 4
Ali Moghadamzadeh 5

1 Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences in Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences in Sports , Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences in Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran , Iran.

4 Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences in Sports , Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran , Iran.

5 Department of Educational and Curriculum Methods and Programs, University of Tehran , Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22059/jsmdl.2025.393957.1839
Abstract
Introduction: The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of virtual reality training on gross and fine motor skills in children with developmental coordination disorder.
Methods: In this semi-experimental study with a repeated measures design, 24 boys aged 7 to 10 years from Tehran diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) were selected based on inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to two groups: virtual reality training and control. Participants completed the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2) at pretest. The intervention phase lasted six weeks, with three 20-minute sessions per week, during which the virtual reality group performed the prescribed training program while the control group engaged in their usual daily activities. A posttest was conducted in the final session.
Results: The results showed that virtual reality training led to a significant improvement in both gross and fine motor skills in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) (p < 0.05). Additionally, the findings indicated that the improvements in gross and fine motor skills were maintained in both short-term and long-term follow-up tests (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results, virtual reality training can likely be used in clinical and home programs to improve gross and fine motor skills in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), as it can stimulate interest and promote active participation.

Keywords

Video games
Motor Efficiency
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
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Journal of Sports and Motor Development and Learning
Volume 18, Issue 1
Spring 2026
Pages 143-156

  • Receive Date 23 April 2025
  • Revise Date 19 May 2025
  • Accept Date 21 May 2025

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