Effect of Table Tennis Training Program on Sustained Attention and Cognitive Flexibility of Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

1. Motor Skills Disorders 2. Executive Function 3. Exercise Introduction: In addition to coordination and motor difficulties, one of the main problems in children with developmental coordination disorder that prevents them from learning in early childhood education is a defect in executive functions. In recent years, the tendency to use novel therapeutic approaches for children with executive dysfunctions has increased. Cognitive rehabilitation or training in executive functions is an approach that has received much attention in recent years. The purpose of the present s tudy was to inves tigate the effect of the Table Tennis Training Program on sus tained attention and cognitive flexibility in children with developmental coordination disorder. Materials and Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretes t-pos ttes t design. The s tatis tical population of this s tudy was all children aged 9-12 years with developmental coordination disorder in Kermanshah, Iran. Subjects in this s tudy were 20 children with developmental coordination disorder who were selected by convenience sampling and were randomly assigned into two control and experimental groups. The tools of this s tudy were Wilson Developmental Coordination Disorders Ques tionnaire, Movement Assessment Buttery for Children, Computerized Continuous Performance, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Tes t. Before and after the intervention program, sus tained attention and cognitive flexibility of all subjects were measured. Table Tennis Training Program was held in the gym for 12 weeks and twice a week for 70 minutes. Results: The results showed a significant improvement in sus tained attention and cognitive flexibility in children with developmental coordination disorder following 12 weeks of Table Tennis Training. Conclusion: Table tennis training has improved sus tained attention and cognitive flexibility in children with developmental coordination disorder. These data sugges t the benefits of exercise programs based on Training of executive functions and high attentional load in children with coordination disorder. ABSTRACT Article Info: