Initial steps towards evidenced-based classification for Taekwondo poomsae athletes with intellectual impairments: a pilot study

The Paralympic classification process for athletes with intellectual impairments (II) requires sport-specific testing, developed on the basis of evidence about the impact of the underlying impairment on the performance in that sport. The main purpose of this explorative study was to assess the feasibility, reliability and validity of a novel taekwondo poomsae test in a sample of Taekwondo poomsae athletes with II. The second purpose was to determine to what extent cognitive aspects of sports intelligence are related to poomsae performance. The final purpose was to understand the relationship between generic working memory and poomsae specific memory. Thirteen poomsae athletes with II (8 males and 5 females) performed four cognitive and executive function tests and a novel test, specifically developed for the purpose of this study, to assess taekwondo poomsae performance. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between psychomotor speed and poomsae performance (TPPS), both for the dominant hand (r=.766, p < .05) and non-dominant hand (r=.658, p < .05). Poomsae specific memory (TPMS) was found to be significantly correlated to mean (r=.704, p = .011) and maximum generic working memory (r=.655, p = .021). High reliability (TPPS r=.982, ICC=.97-.99, d=.041; TPMS r=.955, ICC=.99-.99, d=.058) (p<.05), feasibility and content validity established the taekwondo poomsae test as a potential tool to include in a future evidence-based classification system for taekwondo poomsae athletes with II.