{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T23:43:29Z","timestamp":1788824609131,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]],"date-time":"2026-01-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767657600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Brain Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Children with Down Syndrome (DS) exhibit difficulties in maintaining balance and coordination in addition to limitations in functional mobility. The Cognitive\u2013Motor Dual-Task Exercise Program (CMDT) has shown the ability to improve balance and functional mobility. This study aimed to compare the effect of CMDT versus exergaming on the balance and functional mobility of children with Down Syndrome aged 8\u201314 years. Methods: A randomized comparative trial was conducted, dividing participants\u2019 children with DS into two intervention groups: CMDT group and exergaming group. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling methods from the Voice of Down Syndrome Association and the Down Syndrome Charitable Association in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Both interventions were implemented over a period of six weeks. Outcome measures included the Timed Up and Go (TUG), Four Square Step Test (FSST), and Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS). Results: A total of 23 children with DS participated in the study. A mixed repeated measures ANCOVA shows a significant effect of time across the two groups (p &lt; 0.001) for TUG, FSST, and PBS, indicating improvements in balance and functional mobility. There were no significant differences between the two group interventions. Conclusions: CMDT and exergaming were equally effective in improving balance and functional mobility in children with DS. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov with ID NCT06146907.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci16010079","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]],"date-time":"2026-01-06T15:09:36Z","timestamp":1767712176000},"page":"79","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["The Effects of Cognitive\u2013Motor Dual-Task Exercise and Exergaming on Balance and Functional Mobility in Children with Down Syndrome: A Comparative Randomized Trial"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Safia Darweesh","family":"Halwsh","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2566-3380","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maha F.","family":"Algabbani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Samiah","family":"Alqabbani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 84428, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tahani AbdulAziz","family":"Alahmad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0904-1178","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Muneera M.","family":"Almurdi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Reema A.","family":"Alshubaily","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5375-0583","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mai","family":"Aldera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hawra\u2019a Abdullah","family":"Al-Dubisi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Voice of Down Syndrome Association, Riyadh 11693, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ruaa Mohammed","family":"Almedlej","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Voice of Down Syndrome Association, Riyadh 11693, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9265-0806","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Afaf A. M.","family":"Shaheen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia"},{"name":"Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"1179","article-title":"Down syndrome: Knowledge and attitudes among future healthcare providers","volume":"18","author":"Rabbani","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Taibah Univ. Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Klotzbier, T.J., Holfelder, B., and Schott, N. (2022). Associations of motor performance and executive functions: Comparing children with Down Syndrome to chronological and mental age-matched controls. 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