Healthy Volunteer Study
Conditions
Keywords
differential learning, blocked practice, motor performance, retention, movement variability
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial compared differential learning (DL) versus blocked practice (BP) on motor performance and retention in 100 sport science students. Participants performed a table tennis topspin serve. DL involved continuous movement variations without corrective feedback; BP involved repetition with corrective feedback. Outcomes included accuracy (Euclidean distance) and movement variability (ApEn). Assessments at baseline, post-intervention (after 6 sessions over 3 weeks), and 7-day retention.
Detailed description
A two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial. One hundred undergraduate sport science students (age 18-25 years) were randomly assigned to differential learning (DL, n=50) or blocked practice (BP, n=50). The DL group performed a table tennis topspin serve with continuous pseudo-random variations across five movement dimensions (stance, backswing amplitude, execution speed, trunk rotation, wrist action) without corrective feedback. The BP group repeated a standardized movement pattern with trial-by-trial corrective feedback. Both groups completed six training sessions over three weeks (two sessions per week, 45 min each). Motor performance (accuracy measured as Euclidean distance from target center) was assessed at baseline, post-intervention (within 48h), and retention (7 days later). Movement variability was quantified using approximate entropy (ApEn) from kinematic data. Theoretical knowledge of motor learning was assessed as a potential moderator. Linear mixed-effects models, moderation analysis, and mediation analysis (bootstrapping) were performed. The trial was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALDifferential Learning
Participants performed table tennis topspin serve with continuous pseudo-random variations across five movement dimensions (stance, backswing amplitude, execution speed, trunk rotation, wrist action) without corrective feedback.
BEHAVIORALBlocked Practice
Participants repeated a standardized movement pattern with trial-by-trial corrective feedback focusing on consistency and accuracy.
Sponsors
The Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Undergraduate sport science student * Age 18 to 25 years * Physically active but non-expert in table tennis (less than 2 hours per week of structured practice in the past year) * Absence of self-reported musculoskeletal injury affecting upper or lower limbs * No known neurological or sleep disorders * No use of medication affecting motor or cognitive function * No irregular sleep schedules
Exclusion criteria
* Regular table tennis competition * Injury preventing practice * Known sleep disorder * Inability to provide informed consent
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Performance (Accuracy) | Baseline, immediately post-intervention (after 3 weeks), and 7-day retention | Euclidean distance (in cm) between the ball's first landing point and the center of the target area during a table tennis topspin serve. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Movement Variability | Baseline, immediately post-intervention (after 3 weeks), and 7-day retention | Approximate entropy (ApEn) derived from kinematic time-series data recorded during each trial. Higher ApEn values indicate greater movement complexity and adaptability. |
Countries
Tunisia
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORKais El Abed, Phd
University of Sfax, Tunisia
Outcome results
None listed