The Effect of Exergame-Supported Training on Reaction Time and Agility

NCT07765277 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: PNU-15
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study looks at whether a type of exercise video game, called an exergame, can help adolescent boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who play table tennis react faster and move more quickly (agility) during play. Twenty-four adolescent male table tennis players with mild ASD are taking part. Half of them add 20 minutes of exergame training, using a light-based reaction device, to their usual table tennis practice twice a week for 8 weeks. The other half continue their usual table tennis practice only, without the exergame. Reaction time is measured using a light-based reaction device, and agility is measured using a standard running drill (the T-test), before and after the 8-week period. This study aims to find out whether exergame training added to regular practice can help young table tennis players with ASD react and move faster during matches.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Keywords

Exergame; Reaction time; Video game-based exercise; Agility; Autism spectrum disorder; Motor skills

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Reaction Time

  Outcome Measure Description: Average reaction time measured using the BlazePod light-reaction system. Pods were secured to the table in a triangular pattern at 20 cm intervals. Using the device's "random mode," "single colour (blue)," and "15 seconds" settings, participants extinguished illuminated pods as quickly as possible with their dominant hand; average reaction time was recorded as the performance metric.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week training programme (post-intervention)

• Agility

  Outcome Measure Description: Agility measured using the T-test protocol. A cone was placed 9.14 m from the starting point, with two additional cones placed 4.57 m to the right and left of it. Participants ran straight to the second cone, side-shuffled to the third, fourth, and back to the second cone, then ran backward to the start. Time to complete the course was recorded using a photoelectric electronic stopwatch (accuracy 0.01 s).

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 8-week training programme (post-intervention)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Height

  Baseline and post-intervention (Week 8)

• Body Weight

  Baseline and post-intervention (Week 8)

Study Arms (2)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Arm Description: Participants continued their routine table tennis training only (50 minutes per session), twice weekly for 8 weeks, with no exergame component added.

Exergame Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants continued their routine table tennis training (30 minutes per session) and additionally undertook 20 minutes of exergame training using a light-reaction device (BlazePod), delivered one-to-one under supervision of their club coach, twice weekly for 8 weeks across 4 progressively increasing difficulty levels (16 sessions total; 320 minutes of exergame training).

Behavioral: Exergame Training

Interventions

Exergame Training BEHAVIORAL

Sensor-based exergame training using the BlazePod system (BlazePod Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel), a light-reaction device with pods that illuminate according to programmable parameters (colour, duration, randomisation). Participants extinguished lit pods as quickly as possible using their hand (weeks 1 of each difficulty level) or a table tennis bat (week 2 of each difficulty level). Pod spacing and set duration (20-50 seconds) increased progressively across 4 difficulty levels over 8 weeks. Sessions were delivered one-to-one, supervised by the participant's own club coach following a standardised training manual and briefing.

Exergame Training Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 10 Years - 19 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Confirmed diagnosis of mild autism spectrum disorder (ASD), made by a child psychiatrist in accordance with DSM-5 criteria
• Adolescent age
• Competed in national table tennis competitions at least once
• No orthopaedic disability
• Not engaging in any exercise or training other than table tennis training Parental consent obtained

You may not qualify if:

• Orthopaedic disability
• Participation in exercise or training other than table tennis
• Absence of parental consent
• Absence of a confirmed ASD diagnosis

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Aksaray University

Aksaray, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Prof

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 5, 2026
• First Posted: August 14, 2026
• Study Start: April 25, 2025
• Primary Completion: July 15, 2026
• Study Completion: July 20, 2026
• Last Updated: August 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Locations

TU (1)