EFFECTS OF EXERCISE WITH MINI TENNIS TRAINING PROGRAM ON EYES AND HANDS REACTION TIME AND BALANCE OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN

Abstract

The purpose of this One-Group Pretest-Posttest experimental research design was to study the effects of exercise with mini tennis training program on eyes and hands reaction time and balance of autistic children. The population consisted of five autistic children, (four male one female), aged seven to eight years old at the Educational Research Center for Children with Special Needs, Kasetsart University Laboratory School in the first semester year 2014. The Population received diagnosis with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder by a medical doctor and participated in this research on a valid informed consent by the Committee of the Educational Research Center for Children with Special Needs.
The research instrument used in this study was the mini tennis training program constructed by the researcher. The face validity was approved by 5 experts. The research was conducted three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) from 7:50-8:30 a.m. for a total of 10 consecutive weeks. The testing for eyes and hands reaction time used the instrument of Sports Authority of Thailand, 2554 B.E. (reliability 0.95) and tested balance by using the instrument of Michikawa et al. in 2009 (reliability 0.97) before training and after the tenth week of training. The population was pre-tested in the first week and a post-tested after the tenth week. The data were analyzed by mean (
), standard deviation (
) and ratio of change (%). The qualitative data were obtained from the observations and the records of exercise behaviors during training of each autistic child and interview records of 2 classroom teachers.
The results showed that eyes and hands reaction time pre-test and post-test after 10th week means were 1.136 and 0.778, balance pre-test and post-test after the 10th week means were 0.75 and 1.67. The ratio of improvement on eyes and hands reaction time and balance were 30.56 and 58.76. The exercise behavior record also showed that autistic children had several positive behavior improvement. The qualitative data collected from observations and interviews revealed that after the training, autistic children had increased on better attention and concentration, improved on the control of movement, obtained better self and emotional control and enjoyed the exercise with mini tennis training program. In conclusion, the mini tennis training program can be applied to Autistic Spectrum Disorder children for developing eyes and hands reaction time, balance and improving appropriate behaviors.
(Journal of Sports Science and Technology 2015; 15(2); 277-287)