What this Trial Is About

This research study investigates how two different types of exercise, calisthenics and plyometric training, affect executive functions in school-going boys aged 8 to 12 years. Executive functions are important cognitive skills that help children manage tasks such as planning, attention, memory, and impulse control. The study aims to compare if calisthenics exercises improve these abilities more than plyometric exercises or no exercise at all. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a calisthenics group, a plyometric group, or a control group with no exercise. The calisthenics group will perform bodyweight exercises like bunny jumps, bear crawls, crab walks, and mad cat exercises, with sessions including warm-up, exercise intervals, and cool-downs lasting about 26 minutes, three times a week for 8 weeks. The plyometric group will do exercises such as medicine ball squats, pushups, standing jumps, single leg hops, and zig-zag double jumps following a similar session structure and schedule. The control group will not participate in any specific exercise program. Children will complete assessments of executive function at the start, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks. These tests measure selective attention, working memory (forward and backward digit span), inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. The study will monitor how these cognitive skills change over time with the different exercise programs. Participation involves school-based supervised exercise sessions and several cognitive tests to evaluate the effects of the interventions.

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