Differential Learning Enhances Motor Performance and Retention in Sport Science Students (DL_BP_RCT)

Differential Learning Enhances Motor Performance and Retention in Sport Science Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy Volunteer Study
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Differential Learning; Behavioral: Blocked Practice

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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Tunisia
  • Sfax, Tunisia, 3000
    • Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax (ISSEP Sfax)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Differential Learning Group; Participants performed table tennis topspin serve with continuous variations across five movement dimensions (stance, backswing amplitude, execution speed, trunk rotation, wrist action) without corrective feedback.	Behavioral: Differential 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.
Active Comparator: Blocked Practice Group; Participants repeated a standardized movement pattern with trial-by-trial corrective feedback focusing on consistency and accuracy.	Behavioral: Blocked Practice; Participants repeated a standardized movement pattern with trial-by-trial corrective feedback focusing on consistency and accuracy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Motor Performance (Accuracy)	Euclidean distance (in cm) between the ball's first landing point and the center of the target area during a table tennis topspin serve.	Baseline, immediately post-intervention (after 3 weeks), and 7-day retention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Movement Variability	Approximate entropy (ApEn) derived from kinematic time-series data recorded during each trial. Higher ApEn values indicate greater movement complexity and adaptability.	Baseline, immediately post-intervention (after 3 weeks), and 7-day retention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kais El Abed, Phd, University of Sfax, Tunisia

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Chmara P, Brzykcy A, Brazevic S, Jozwiak M. Habitual Physical Activity and Walking Endurance Following Inpatient Rehabilitation in Children With Cerebral Palsy. Cureus. 2026;18(5):e109862.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 2, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): June 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 30, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 3, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 5, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 3, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: retention; motor performance; movement variability; differential learning; blocked practice
• Other Study ID Numbers: ISSEP_DL_BP_2025

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