Effects of combat training on visuomotor performance in children aged 9 to 12 years - an eye-tracking study

Yan-Ying Ju,Chi-Chin Sun,Chih-Hsiu Cheng,Yen-Hsiu Liu,Yu-Lung Lee,Hsin-Yi Kathy Cheng,Shih-Tsung Chang

doi:10.1186/s12887-018-1038-6

Abstract

BackgroundData on visuomotor performance in combat training and the effects of combat training on visuomotor performance are limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a specially designed combat sports (CS) training program on the visuomotor performance levels of children.MethodsA pre–post comparative design was implemented. A total of 26 students aged 9–12 years underwent 40-min CS training sessions twice a week for 8 weeks during their physical education classes. The CS training program was designed by a karate coach and a motor control specialist. The other 30 students continued their regular activities and were considered as a control group. Each student’s eye movement was monitored using an eye tracker, whereas the motor performance was measured using a target hitting system with a program-controlled microprocessor. The measurements were taken 8 weeks before (baseline), 1 day before (pretest), and 1 week after (posttest) the designated training program. The task used for evaluating these students was hitting or tracking random illuminated targets as rapidly as possible. A two-way analysis of variance [group(2) × time(3)] with repeated measures of time was performed for statistical analysis.ResultsFor the children who received combat training, although the eye response improvement was not significant, both the primary and secondary saccade onset latencies were significantly earlier compared to the children without combat training. Both groups of students exhibited improvement in their hit response times during the target hitting tasks.ConclusionThe current finding supported the notion that sports training efforts essentially enhance visuomotor function in children aged 9–12 years, and combat training facilitates an earlier secondary saccade onset.

Highlights

Data on visuomotor performance in combat training and the effects of combat training on visuomotor performance are limited
Since the information concerning the effects of combat training intervention on visuomotor performance is scarce, regarding children at the visual perceptual development stage, the current study aimed to provide children with a specially designed combat sports (CS) training program and to compare the effects of the program with those of the general sports (GS) training program on visuomotor performance in another similar context
Nine of them were excluded because they could not participate in all training sessions or they had already participated in other regular sports activities

Summary

Introduction

Data on visuomotor performance in combat training and the effects of combat training on visuomotor performance are limited. It was suggested that such eye movement analyses can be used to differentiate between children with and without developmental coordination disorders [7] Dynamic movement, such as catching a ball, requires modifying planned movement responses on the basis of visual information about the flight of the ball. For upper limb movement involving finger, elbow and shoulder joints, research has found a clear temporal coupling between primary saccade completion and peak acceleration of the joints [6] This indicated that visual information guides and controls the goal-directed action [1, 6].

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