Table Tennis, as a Method of Sensorimotor Training, Induces Haptic and Motor Gains in Children With a Probable Developmental Coordination Disorder

in Motor Control

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Yu-Ting TsengDepartment of Kinesiology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
Research Center for Education and Mind Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan

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Chia-Liang TsaiInstitute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

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Tzu Hsuan WuInstitute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

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Yi-Wen ChenDepartment of Kinesiology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan

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Yi-Hsuan LinDepartment of Kinesiology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/mc.2021-0123
Keywords:
somatosensory; thresholds; motor development; upper limb; sports
First Published Online:
20 Jan 2023
In Print:
Ahead of Print
Page Range:
1–18
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This study examined whether table tennis as a method of sensorimotor training improves haptic and motor function and to what extent haptic function gain correlates with changes in motor ability in children with probable developmental coordination disorder (pDCD). Children with pDCD were randomly assigned to the table tennis and nontraining control groups. The children in the table tennis group received 36 sessions of table tennis training, including ball balancing, hitting the ball against the wall, strokes, and serving. Haptic sensitivity, acuity, and motor function domains were measured. The results showed a 41.5% improvement in haptic sensitivity in children exposed to table tennis training compared with 2.8% in those without training. This improved haptic sensitivity significantly correlated with motor function gain, suggesting that somatosensory gains occur simultaneously with changes in motor function in children with pDCD. This novel upper limb motor training approach may be an interesting method of sensorimotor training in neurological rehabilitation in children with pDCD.

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