Effect of low and high intentional velocity strength training on executive functions in children: a randomized controlled trial
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v68.113321Keywords:
Children; Executive func-tion; Strength training; ChildrenAbstract
Introduction: Although physical activity has been shown to improve children's cognitive performance, the specific impact of execution speed in strength training on executive functions remains unclear. This study investigated how execution speed in strength training influences these functions in children.
Objective: The aim was to investigate the impact of execution speed during strength training on executive functions in children.
Methodology: Thirty-one children (mean age 10.06 ± 1.54 years) were randomly assigned to three groups: low-speed strength training (LVRT), high-speed strength training (HVRT), and control (GC). Executive functions were evaluated before and after 8 weeks of training (3 sessions per week) using the Stroop test, digit span, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.
Results: In inhibitory control, HVRT showed significant improvements in time and correct responses, with differences compared to the GC. In working memory, both HVRT and LVRT improved in the number of correct words in reverse order, with a significant difference compared to the GC. In cognitive flexibility, both groups showed improvement, but only LVRT significantly reduced errors.
Discussion: The results align with previous studies showing improvements in executive functions after strength training, particularly at high speed. These findings suggest that execution speed may be key to optimizing cognitive benefits, particularly in inhibitory control and working memory.
Conclusions: Both types of training improved cognitive flexibility and working memory, but only high-speed training improved inhibitory control, with no differences compared to constant-speed training.
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