Comparison Between Plyometrics and Calisthenics on Executive Function in School Going Children

Effects of Plyometrics and Calisthenics on Executive Function in School Going Children

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of calisthenics and plyometric exercises on executive functions in school-going children. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Will calisthenics exercises have a better effect on executive functions compared to plyometric exercises in school-going children?
• How do these exercise interventions impact selective attention, working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility in children?

Researchers will compare a calisthenics exercise group, a plyometric exercise group, and a control group (no intervention) to see if there are differences in executive function outcomes.

Participants will:

• Be male school-going children aged 8-12 years
• Be randomly assigned to one of three groups: calisthenics, plyometric, or control
• Complete baseline assessments of executive function
• Participate in their assigned exercise program 3 times per week for 8 weeks (exercise groups only)
• Complete follow-up assessments of executive function at 4 weeks and 8 weeks
• Perform tests measuring selective attention, working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Executive Function
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Plyometric; Other: Calisthenics; Other: Control

Detailed Description

Title: Comparison of Calisthenics and Plyometric Exercises on Executive Functions Among School-Going Children

This research study, conducted by Maria Javid at Riphah International University in Islamabad, aims to investigate how different types of exercise affect cognitive abilities in children. Specifically, it compares the effects of calisthenics (bodyweight exercises) and plyometrics (jump training) on executive functions in school-going children.

Executive functions are crucial cognitive skills that help children with tasks like planning, organizing, paying attention, and controlling impulses. These skills are essential for academic success and everyday life. The study seeks to understand if and how different exercise types can enhance these cognitive abilities.

Key Details:

• Participants: Male school-going children aged 8-12 years
• Duration: 8 weeks
• Location: Public and private schools in Islamabad, Pakistan

The study will involve three groups:

1. Calisthenics group: Performing bodyweight exercises
2. Plyometric group: Engaging in jumping and explosive movement exercises
3. Control group: No specific exercise intervention

Both exercise groups will participate in supervised sessions three times per week. The exercises are designed to be age-appropriate and safe for children.

Measurements:

Researchers will assess various aspects of executive function using standardized tests:

• Selective attention: Using the Children's Trail Making Test
• Working memory: Using Forward and Backward Digit Span Tests
• Inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility: Using the Stroop Test

These assessments will be conducted at the beginning of the study, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks to track changes over time.

Significance:

This study is important because it could provide valuable insights into how different types of exercise affect children's cognitive development. The results could inform physical education programs in schools and help parents and educators make informed decisions about children's physical activities.

Ethical Considerations:

The study has been approved by the university's ethics review board. Participation is voluntary, and parents must provide informed consent. All data will be kept confidential and coded to protect participants' identities.

Expected Outcomes:

The researchers hypothesize that calisthenics exercises may have a more significant positive effect on executive functions compared to plyometric exercises. However, both exercise types are expected to show improvements compared to the control group.

This research contributes to the growing field of exercise neuroscience and could have practical implications for child development, education, and public health policies related to physical activity in schools.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 99
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Waqar Ahmed Awan Phd; Phone Number: +923335348846; Email: waqar.ahmed@riphah.edu.pk

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan, 46000
      • Recruiting
      • Different Schools
      • Contact: Waqar Ahmed Awan Principal Investigator, phD; Phone Number: 0923335348846; Email: waqar.ahmed@riphah.edu.pk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants falling in this category would be recruited into the study.
• Male School Going Children (8-12 Years of Age)
• Normal BMI of School Going Children
• No Recent Musculoskeletal Injury.
• Not Actively Engaged in Other Sports

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with any mental or physical disability.
• Children with acute illness or fracture
• Active Inflammation or infections
• Any physical deformity

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Calisthenics; Session will start with 9 minutes of warm up which includes 4 minutes of jogging and moderate intensity dynamic stretching for 5 minutes. Session would be of 8 minutes in which 1 minutes exercise and 1 minute rest is there. Exercise include bunny jumps, bear crawls , crab walk and mad cat and 9 minutes cool down period. This protocol would be follow up to 8 weeks.	Other: Calisthenics; Session will start with 9 minutes of warm up which includes 4 minutes of jogging and moderate intensity dynamic stretching for 5 minutes. Session would be of 8 minutes in which 1 minutes exercise and 1 minute rest is there. Exercise include bunny jumps, bear crawls , crab walk and mad cat and 9 minutes cool down period. This protocol would be follow up to 8 weeks.
Experimental: Plyometric; Session will start with 9 minutes of warm up which includes 4 minutes of jogging and moderate intensity dynamic stretching for 5 minutes.. And 9 minutes cool down period. Following Plyometrics would be performed:1 medicine ball squats 2.ABC pushups 3.Medicine ball chest press 4.standing jump reach for star 5.SINGLE leg hops 6.Pushup on knees 7.zig zag double jump	Other: Plyometric; : Session will start with 9 minutes of warm up which includes 4 minutes of jogging and moderate intensity dynamic stretching for 5 minutes.. And 9 minutes cool down period. Following Plyometrics would be performed:1 medicine ball squats 2.ABC pushups 3.Medicine ball chest press 4.standing jump reach for star 5.SINGLE leg hops 6.Pushup on knees 7.zig zag double jump
Other: Control; compare with other groups	Other: Control; compare with other groups

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Selective Attention	which is measured by Children's Trail Making Test (Parts 1 and 2).Part 1: This test assesses the child's ability to maintain focused attention by having them connect numbered circles in sequential order as quickly as possible. It measures visual attention and task-switching capabilities. Part 2: In this part, the child alternates between numbers and letters (e.g., 1-A-2-B), which adds a layer of complexity to assess cognitive flexibility and visual-motor coordination.	8 weeks
Forward Digit Span	Measures the ability to temporarily hold and recall sequences of numbers in the same order they are presented, assessing short-term memory	8 weeks
Backward Digit Span	Requires the child to recall sequences of numbers in reverse order, testing their working memory and cognitive processing capabilities.	8 weeks
Digit Sequencing	Involves recalling a series of digits in numerical order, further assessing the ability to manipulate and reorganize information in working memory	8 weeks
Inhibitory Control and Cognitive Flexibility	tested by Stroop Test This test evaluates the child's ability to inhibit automatic responses and demonstrate cognitive flexibility. In the classic Stroop task, the child must name the ink color of words that are incongruent with their meaning (e.g., the word "red" printed in blue ink). It measures how well the child can control their impulsive responses and manage conflicting information.	8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Waqar Ahmed Awan Principal Investigator, phD, Riphah International University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 12, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 4, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 10, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 12, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 10, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 10, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Working memory; Physical activity; Cognitive development; Executive function; Inhibitory control; Cognitive flexibility; Trail Making Test; Plyometric exercises; Calisthenics; School-going children; Selective attention; Stroop test; Digit Span Test; Cognitive assessment in children
• Other Study ID Numbers: RiphahRCRAHS-ISBRECMS-PT01917

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No