The Effect of Quiet Eye Training on Performance and Kinematics of Throwing Skill in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder at 6 Years Old

Abstract

Background: The purpose of current study was examining the effect of quiet eye training on performance and kinematics of throwing skill in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) at 6 years of age. Methods: In this semi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design and a 14-day follow-up period, 30 girls of 6 years old with DCD were assigned into two groups of quiet eye training and control. In pre-test phase, participants performed 10 trials of bean bag throwing. Acquisition phase was done in 18 sessions and in each session, 10 trials were done. After finishing the last training session, in post-test phase, and in 2 weeks detraining in retention phase, participants performed 10 trials of bean bag throwing. In each phase, vision information with eye tracker system, kinematic data with high-speed camera, and accuracy were recorded by researcher. Data were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings: Quiet eye training had a significant effect on accuracy of throwing, quiet eye period, and throwing kinematics (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the current study emphasize the importance of quiet eye training in improving throwing skill and kinematics of children with DCD, and instructors are advised to use this type of exercise to improve these skills.

Keywords

• eye exercises
• developmental coordination disorder
• motor skills