Additional Exergames to Regular Tennis Training Improves Cognitive-Motor Functions of Children but May Temporarily Affect Tennis Technique: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Frontiers in Psychology

Matej Plevnik¹  Rado Pisot²  Bostjan Simunic²  Luka Šlosar²  Uros Marusic³  Eling D. de Bruin⁴  Eduardo Bodnariuc Fontes⁵ 

[1] Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Izola, Slovenia;Institute for Kinesiology Research, Science and Research Centre Koper, Koper, Slovenia;Institute for Kinesiology Research, Science and Research Centre Koper, Koper, Slovenia;Department of Health Sciences, Alma Mater Europaea – ECM, Maribor, Slovenia;Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, Department Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden;Research Group in Physical Activity, Cognition and Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil;

关键词: augmented and virtual reality;    teaching/learning strategies;    cognitive-motor learning;    executive functions;    tennis performance;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2021.611382

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

This study evaluated the effects of an exergame program (TennisVirtua-4, Playstation Kinect) combined with traditional tennis training on autonomic regulation, tennis technique, gross motor skills, clinical reaction time, and cognitive inhibitory control in children. Sixty-three children were randomized into four groups (1st – two exergame and two regular trainings sessions/week, 2nd – one exergame and one regular training sessions/week, 3rd – two regular trainings sessions/week, and 4th – one regular training session/week) and compared at baseline, 6-month immediately post intervention and at 1-year follow-up post intervention. At 6-month post intervention the combined exergame and regular training sessions revealed: higher breathing frequency, heart rate (all ps ≤ 0.001) and lower skin conductance levels (p = 0.001) during exergaming; additional benefits in the point of contact and kinetic chain elements of the tennis forehand and backhand technique (all ps ≤ 0.001); negative impact on the shot preparation and the follow-through elements (all ps ≤ 0.017); higher ball skills (as part of the gross motor skills) (p < 0.001); higher percentages of clinical reaction time improvement (1st −9.7% vs 3rd group −7.4% and 2nd −6.6% vs 4th group −4.4%, all ps ≤ 0.003) and cognitive inhibitory control improvement in both congruent (1st −20.5% vs 3rd group −18.4% and 2nd −11.5% vs 4th group −9.6%, all ps ≤ 0.05) and incongruent (1st group −19.1% vs 3rd group −12.5% and 2nd group −11.4% vs 4th group −6.5%, all ps ≤ 0.001) trials. The 1-year follow-up test showed no differences in the tennis technique, clinical reaction time and cognitive inhibitory control improvement between groups with the same number of trainings per week. The findings support exergaming as an additional training tool, aimed to improve important cognitive-motor tennis skills by adding dynamics to the standardized training process. Caution should be placed to planning this training, e.g., in a mesocycle, since exergaming might decrease the improvement of specific tennis technique parts of the trainees. (ClinicalTrials.gov; ID: NCT03946436).

【 授权许可】

CC BY