Comparison of the effect of a taekwondo and gymnastics training course on the mental rotation of girls and boys aged ۹ to ۱۰ years

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a taekwondo and gymnastics training course on the mental rotation performance of girls and boys aged ۹ to ۱۰ years. This study was an experimental study and the research design included pre-test and post-test with the control group. The statistical population included all male and female students of the fourth grade of primary school in the first district of Mashhad. The samples of this study included ۶۰ people (۳۰ girls and ۳۰ boys) who were purposefully selected and randomly divided into six groups: girl taekwondo, boy taekwondo, girl gymnastics, boy gymnastics, girl control and boy control (each group ۱۰ people) were located. The ability of mental rotation with a reliability coefficient of ۰.۸۸ was obtained from six groups of pen-paper test groups. The experimental group then performed their ۴۰-minute training protocol for eight consecutive weeks for eight weeks. At the end of the training sessions, post-test was taken again from all six groups. For data analysis, SPSS ۱۹ software and mixed variance statistical method were used. The results showed that both types of exercises led to a significant increase in mental rotation (P <۰.۰۵) but there was no significant difference between the two types of exercise and also between girls and boys (P> ۰.۰۵). The results of the present study show that taekwondo or gymnastics training program has an effect on the ability to rotate the mind, but this effect is not gender-dependent.

Keywords:

Mental Rotation , Taekwondo , Gymnastics , Gender , Students