Effect of Exercise Training on Fine Motor Skills

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Testosterone Concentration; Fine Motor Skills
• Interventions: Behavioral: exercise training

• Registration Number: NCT04734964
• Lead Sponsor: Lithuanian Sports University

Brief Summary

Despite the importance of physical activity for adolescent physical development, the specific impact of different types of exercise training on fine motor skills and testosterone concentration is unknown. A primary aim of this study was to analyze the benefits of cardiovascular and coordinative exercise training on fine motor skills in an adolescent population. A second aim of our study was to determine the testosterone concentration after physical stress of cardiovascular and coordinative exercise training and if testosterone was related to fine motor skills among adolescents following an exercise training intervention.

Detailed Description

We assigned 135 adolescents (68 girls, 12-15 years of age) from Lithuania. Adolescents were assigned to one of three groups: control group (CON) (n = 46; 23 girls), coordinative exercise (CE) (n = 41; 22 girls), and cardiovascular exercise (CVE) group (n = 48; 23 girls). Participants performed all necessary tests according to the study protocol one week before the intervention. Adolescents were familiarized with the tests on a separate day before the first assessment. A second set of tests was performed one week after the 10-week exercise intervention.

The exercise intervention period was 10 weeks. Exercises were led by a Physical Education teacher. Experimental groups had common physical education classes twice per week for 45 minutes each, and additional exercise sessions were held three times per week for 45 minutes after school.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2018-01-15
• Primary Completion: 2018-03-30
• Study Completion: 2018-09-28
• Status Verified: 2021-01
• Study First Submitted: 2021-01-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-01-29
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-01-29
• Study First Posted: 2021-02-02
• Last Update Posted: 2021-02-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 135

Inclusion Criteria

• absence of physical impairment (e.g. traumatic injury)
• absence of mental impairment (e.g. mental retardation)
• no consumption of psychotropic medications

Exclusion Criteria

• restrictions to do exercises (based on Medical certificate issued by the Physician)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Cardiovascular exercise group	exercise training	Participants had common physical education classes twice per week for 45 minutes each, and additional exercise sessions were held three times per week for 45 minutes after school.
Coordinative exercise group	exercise training	Participants had common physical education classes twice per week for 45 minutes each, and additional exercise sessions were held three times per week for 45 minutes after school.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Salivary testosterone concentration	baseline and week 10	Hormone concentration within the saliva sample was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IBL, Hamburg, Germany). Change = (week 10 score - baseline score).
Fine motor skills assessed by the Flower trail test	baseline and week 10	Flower trail test was used to assess fine motor skills. The participant has to draw a line between two solid lines as accurately as possible and without lifting a pen. A higher score in the flower trail test means more mistakes made. Change = (week 10 score - baseline score)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Hand-eye coordination assessed by the Hand-eye coordination test	baseline and week 10	Participant has to throw a tennis ball against a wall and catch and repeat this for 30 seconds. A number of successful catches is recorded, higher score shows better coordination. Change = (week 10 score - baseline score).
Cardiorespiratory fitness assessed by the Shuttle Run Test	baseline and week 10	On this test, the participant must run back and forth between two lines (20 meters apart) with increasing intensity. Higher score means a better cardiorespiratory fitness. Change = (week 10 score - baseline score).
static balance assessed by the Flamingo balance test	baseline and week 10	Flamingo balance test is used to assess static balance. Every attempt to maintain balance for 1 minute is counted as a score. Small values (closer to 1) indicate a better balance. Change = (week 10 score - baseline score)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Lithuanian Sports University; 🇱🇹 Kaunas, Lithuania