Journal of Sports and Motor Development and Learning

Abstract Introduction: Studies that have examined the upper limb function of children with cerebral palsy and hemiplegia have mostly used single-handed tasks, including the constraint of the healthy hand technique; however, this method led to emotional problems in the child. This study aimed to investigate hand function after bimanual handball training in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
Methods: Five children referred to Fakhr e Sadegh Clinic with a mean age of 10.2±2.28 years were selected via convenience sampling. Parents of the children completed the consent form. Each participant was tested once before and once after the training using the Purdue pegboard test, and one-handed, simultaneous bimanual, and sequential bimanual performance were assessed. The participants performed two 30-minute bimanual exercise sessions per week for a total of six weeks.
Results: The results were analyzed using SPSS 27 software. Paired t-test showed that performance of the less affected hand (p=0.03) and sequential bimanual coordination (p=0.00) increased significantly, while simultaneous bimanual coordination (p=0.08) did not improve significantly. Also, the Wilcoxon test did not show a significant improvement in the more affected hand (p=0.06).
Conclusion: It seems that the use of bimanual handball catching exercises can be effective in improving sequential bimanual coordination and the function of the less affected hand in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy and can be used as an intervention method in motor rehabilitation of these children.

Abstract Introduction: The purpose of present study was to test the effect of contextual interference and self-regulation on the transfer of volleyball services (underhand and windmill service).
Methods: Participants were 39 male students (20-25 years old) were randomly assigned to one of three groups (blocked, random and self-regulation) and performed total of 40 trials of volleyball service each session (6 sessions). The blocked group practiced 40 trials of one service each session but the random group randomly practiced both services. In self-regulated group, the type of services in each session was determined by subjects. The transfer test was conducted one week after practice period in 5 trials. In order to analyze the data, the one-way analysis of variance and the Tukey’s post hoc tests were used.
Results: The comparison between the pre-test and transfer test showed that the difference between blocked and random groups was not statically significant. The  self-regulation group had higher transfer scores compared to blocked and random groups.
Conclusion: The results of present work support the contexuual interference affect but it’s not significant. Self-regulated practices involve the subjects in learning processes. Also, with his method, they participate more activity in determining the characteristics of the exercise. These factors lead to the improvement of learning and better performance. 

Abstract Children in preschool are at an optimal time for the development of gross and fine motor skills. Visual-motor integration is an important perceptual-motor skill that children need to acquire in order to function successfully before formal schooling commences. In this study were investigated the effect of three motor intervention programs (gross, fine, & gross-fine)on visual-motor integration in 80 children who presented below average VMI skills scores. From these participants three experimental (n=60)and a control group (n=20)were randomly selected. The experimental groups participated in a 12 week intervention program of three 45 minutes sessions per week. The Beery-Buktenica developmental test of visual-motor integration 6th edition was used to measure the participants VMI skills. Mixed ANOVA with repeated measures and LSD post hoc test was used to analyze effects of motor intervention programs 

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of attentional focus instructions on spatial memory in children.Thirty girl students with the mean age from 7 to 12 years were selected by convenience sampling from elementary schools in Tehran. Participants were randomly divided into three attentional focus groups (internal, external, control). Participants in the internal focus group were asked to focus their attention on the movements of their hand, whereas participants in the external focus group were asked to focus their attention to the movement path and target. Control group participants received no focus instructions. Acquisition phase lasted five consecutive days. The instrument used for measuring spatial memory was linear movement apparatus (LM-01 model). Analysis of Covariance and Bonferoni tests were used at p

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the effect of social-comparative feedback on acquisition and consolidation of a perceptual-motor skill in high school male students. In this study, 36 high school students as the sample were randomly assigned to three groups (each group 12 subjects): positive, negative and veridical social-comparative feedback. Pretest scores were recorded. Acquisition phase lasted five days and each subjects daily performed 10 blocks of 3 trials of badminton long serve. After each block, they received the feedback of their mean scores in the form of positive (higher than the actual score), negative (lower than the actual score) and veridical (the actual score) given the group to which they belonged. After 72 hours of detraining, consolidation test was performed under the same conditions as the pretest. After determining the data normality and homogeneity of variances, ANOVA with repeated measures, one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test were used to analyze data at the significance level of P≤0.05. The results showed that training improved the performance of groups in the acquisition phase. But there was no significant difference in the performance of the groups. The consolidation of positive feedback group was significantly better than the other groups. These findings suggest that positive social-comparative feedback affects the consolidation of a perceptual-motor skill such as targeted badminton long serve skill.  

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare quiet eye in children with high and low motor proficiency. In this causal-comparative study, 40 children (7 to 14 years old) in Isfahan city were selected by multiple cluster sampling method. Participants performed throwing and catching task in 10 trials. The data of quiet eyes were recorded by an eye tracking device (Ergoneers) and analyzed by Dikablis 3.1 software when performing the desired task.  After the evaluation of data normality, the data were analyzed by independent t test and Pearson correlation coefficient at the significance level of 0.05. Independent t test results showed that children with high motor proficiency were better in the onset of QE (P=0.0001), offset of QE (P=0.023), QE duration (P=0.0001) and catching performance (P=0.0001) than children with lower motor proficiency. Also, the results showed a significant negative relationship between the catching performance and the onset of QE and a significant positive relationship between the catching performance and the offset of QE and QE duration in both groups of children with high and low motor proficiency. The results of the study generally revealed that the QE is considered as an effective variables associated with motor performance and appropriate to expertise level.

Abstract Attitude plays an important role in success and is one of the aspects that
affect students’ learning. The aim of the present study was to investigate the
validity and reliability of Persian version of Student’s Attitude Toward
Physical Education Scale (SATPES). This study was descriptive-correlation
and the statistical population consisted of all 12-14-year-old students of 1st
grade of middle schools in Tehran city. Student’s Attitude Toward Physical
Education Scale (SATPES) was used in this study and Subramaniam and
Silverman (2000) had validated it. It included two subscales and 20 items
with 5-point Likert responses and 415 questionnaires of this scale were
completed by students. Test-retest method was applied in order to calculate
the temporal reliability and Cronbach’s alpha was used to determine internal
consistency. To determine construct validity, confirmatory and exploratory
factor analyses were applied. The results showed that Persian version of
SATPES supported two dimensional approach of attitude in enjoyment and
benefit with 20 items; thus validity (fit indexes were above the acceptable
level of 0.9) and reliability (above the acceptable level of 0.7) of the scale
were confirmed. In conclusion, Persian version of Student’s Attitude Toward
Physical Education Scale is recommended to measure students’ attitude

Abstract  
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of traditional - local games on the development of gross motor skills of children with educable mental retardation. 30 educable mentally retarded children in Welfare Organization of Marivan city (mea age 12.8 ±1.12 yr and IQ 33.61±7.81) were studied with purposive sampling method. All children were pretested; then, samples were randomly divided into two groups: control and experimental. Each group consisted of 8 boys and 7 girls. In gross motor skills, Bruininks - Oseretsky test of Motor Proficiency was used. Traditional - local games were practiced by the experimental group during 32 sessions, each session 50-60 minutes for 4 days a week. The control group performed their daily routine. After 32 sessions of practice, both groups were post-tested. To study the research hypotheses, non-parametric Wilcoxon and U Mann Whitney tests were used (SPSS16). The results showed a significant difference in posttest scores between the two groups (P<0.05). The experimental group had higher scores. The findings suggested that the training program used (traditional - local games) in this study was appropriate to improve the gross motor skills in educable mentally retarded children and can be used as a training program in training centers.

Abstract The purpose of this current study was to investigate the influence of perceptual-motor trainings on motor skills of girls with trainable mental retardation. so 20 girls with trainable mental retardation in the town of Marivan welfare organization with the average of 8/3 ±1/11 years and IQ of 39/14±6/84 with purposive sampling method were studied. All girls were pretested. Then samples based on sampling method divided into two 10 groups and considered as the control and experimental groups purposefully .In this research, for assessing the gross and fine motor skills we used sections of Bruininks _ oseretsky test . The experimental group did the perceptual-motor training for 24 sessions of practice, in a week .After 24 sessions of practice both groups were post‒test .In order to study the research hypothesis, nonparametric Wilcoxon and U Mann Whithney test were used. The results of the statistical tests showed significant difference on gross motor skills in training groups (p<0.05). while the impact of this training course on gross skills was not significant statistically. The findings showed that training program used in this current research is to improve the gross motor skills in girls with trainable mental retardation and can be useful

Abstract The aim of this research was to determine the effect of selective exercise training on reducing the symptom of hypotonia and changing body composition in Down syndrome adults. The research was performed in Nemoneh Disability Rehabilitation Centre of Tehran. 24 men with Down syndrome (mean age 26.185± 3.933) were randomly assigned to either a control (n=11) or an experimental group (n=13). The Experimental groups followed selective exercise training for 12-weeks, three times a week. Result of this research showed that after 12 weeks selective exercise training, body fat percent had a significant reduction (P<0.05) and soft lean mass and muscle performance (in 5 from 6 tests for assess muscle strength, endurance and power) had a significant increase (P<0.05). The results of this study showed that this type of exercise training significantly improves the health of Down syndrome adults by reduce in extra body fat percent and increase in muscles tissue and performance and in this way; it will reduce the symptoms of Down syndrome for benefit of improved physical health.

Abstract Stress is a natural phenomenon in sport competitions. An athlete may maintain good performance and achieve success when he can deal with stress. The present study aimed at examining the validity and reliability of Anshel and Kaissidis’s Coping Style Inventory for athletes. To this end, this questionnaire was translated into Persian in several stages and sent to 7 sports psychologists to examine its content validity based on the criteria of content validity index and ratio. These experts approved the content validity of the Persian version. Subsequently, the questionnaire was distributed among 425 athletes with different skill levels in both team and individual sports. The data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. The results showed good fit of the data to the model (RMSEA=0.048, NFI=0.927, CFI=0.945, X²/df=1.67). The internal consistency of the subscales was examined using Cronbach’s alpha formula. The alpha coefficients were found to be 0.763 and 0.814 for the subscales of approach style and avoidance style, respectively, which indicated good reliability of the scale. It can be concluded that Coping Style Inventory for athletes was an appropriate instrument to study sports stress and coping strategies in Iranian samples.

Abstract Cerebral palsy is a term commonly used for conditions characterized by motor dysfunction due to non-progressive brain damage in early life. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of self-control and experimental-control feedback frequencies on the acquisition, retention and transfer of a throwing task in children with spastic cerebral palsy. From 1750 students with cerebral palsy in Tehran special schools, 30 children (7-12 years old) with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (SHCP) were selected by a convenience sampling method. A pretest consisting of 10 trials was performed to homogenize the participants. Participants were randomly divided into three self-control groups (with 25%, 50% and 75% feedback frequencies) and three experimental-control groups (with 25%, 50% and 75% feedback frequencies) in acquisition, retention, and transfer phases. In the acquisition phase, subjects completed 10 blocks of 8 trials (total of 80 trials). Retention and transfer phases were conducted 24 hours after the acquisition phase. These phases consisted of 10 trials without feedback, except that the subjects performed the transfer phase from 4m distance (vs. 3m distance in acquisition and retention phases). One-way ANOVA test showed no significant difference between the groups receiving the same frequencies (self-control and experimental-control groups) in the acquisition phase while self-control group outperformed in retention and transfer phases. Furthermore, participants who received higher feedback frequencies (self-control or experimental-control group) outperformed those in lower feedback frequencies in all acquisition, retention, and transfer phases. Thus, while the advantages of self-control feedback against experimental-control feedback were observed in the same feedback frequencies, it seems that children use feedbacks in a manner different from adults during motor learning. Thus children may require higher feedback frequencies than adults in order to optimize their motor learning.

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the effects of three types of balance
training: single task, dual task under fixed priority instructional set (Fp) and dual
task under a variable priority instructional set (Vp) on the balance of the elderly.
The participants were 36 elderly over 65 years old from Kerman province who
were randomly divided into three groups (each 12 subjects) based on Burg pretest
scores. The groups included single task, dual task under fixed priority and dual
task under variable priority. Experimental groups received 45 minutes of training
session, 3 sessions a week for 4 weeks. For data analysis, ANCOVA and
Bonferroni post hoc test were used at (P≤0.05). The results showed that a
significant difference between single task and dual task under fixed priority groups
and also between single task and dual task under variable priority (P=0.008 and
P=0.000 respectively). There was no significant difference between dual task under
fixed priority and variable priority groups (P=0.149). In addition, the results in
Tug test under dual task condition showed a significant difference between single
task and dual task under fixed priority groups and also between single task and
dual task under variable priority groups and also between dual task under fixed
and variable priority groups (P=0.035, P=0.033, P=0.000 respectively). The
results showed that single and dual task balance training improved balance
performance in the elderly but those who had training under dual task
outperformed under single and dual task conditions.

Abstract Aging is a crucial period in human life and it is a social necessity to pay attention to the issues and needs of this stage of life. The aim of the current study was to study the effect of Body Mass Index (BMI) on reaction time and response time of the active and inactive elderly. The research method was causal-comparative and its statistical population consisted of the elderly from Mahabad city and 60 subjects were voluntarily selected and assigned to two active and inactive groups. After determining the levels of BMI, subjects of each group were divided into three levels of low, medium and high BMI and their reaction time and response time were measured. The results of t test showed that the reaction time (P=0.000) and response time (P=0.000) of the active group were significantly shorter than the inactive group. On the other hand, the results of one-way ANOVA test (to compare the reaction time between active (P=0.623) and inactive (P=0.115) elderly at different levels of BMI) showed no significant difference. For the response time, the results of one-way ANOVA showed no significant difference among active elderly (P=0.576), but there was a statistically significant difference among the inactive elderly (P=0.000). Tukey post hoc test showed that in the inactive group, those subjects with low BMI had significantly shorter response time than the subjects with medium (P=0.001) and high (P=0.000) levels of BMI. The difference between the subjects with medium and high BMI levels (P=0.669) was not significant. The results of this study showed that those individuals with low level of BMI had shorter response time than those with higher level of BMI. Overall, BMI is an effective factor for theelderly's response time and the elderly should desirably maintain their BMI by sufficient physical activity.

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of perceptual-motor and music enrichment of environment on the development of fine and gross motor movements in infants. 32 healthy infants (5 to 8 months old) participated in this study and were divided homogenously into four groups (each group 8 subjects): three experimental groups and one control group. Experimental groups had 36 training sessions, 60 minutes per session in their specific enriched environments. Infants in group A were assigned to a perceptual-motor and music enriched environment, infants in group B to a perceptual-motor enriched environment and infants in group C to a music enriched environment. Peabody motor development scale (second edition) was used to evaluate fine and gross motor skills. Data were analyzed using the variables of age equivalent of this scale. The obtained data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed a significant difference in mean age equivalent scores in gross motor movements (P=0.001) and in fine motor movements (P=0.001) between experimental and control groups. These findings showed that perceptual-motor and music experience had a positive effect on motor development generally and on age equivalents of fine and grossmotor movements specifically. In other words, environmental condition and experience were positive factors in fundamental and basic motor skill development in infants who participated in the three experimental groups.

Abstract There is no doubt that augmented feedback has an important role in improving
learning. However, it is the content of the feedback which is challenging. The aim
of the present study was to examine the effect of feedback on successful versus
unsuccessful trials on simple and complex tracking tasks. For this purpose, 48
undergraduate right-handed male and female students of Hakim Sabzevari Teacher
Training University (mean age = 23+1.8 yr) were selected from those students who
had taken general physical education course and were randomly divided into four
groups (N=12) of feedback on successful and unsuccessful trials in simple and
complex tasks. The tracking task was designed in two levels (simple and complex)
in a computer software format to be performed by the participants with maximum
speed and the lowest number of errors. During the acquisition phase, participants
performed 7 blocks of 6 trials in 8 days and they received feedback on two trials.
The method of research was quasi–experimental and ANOVA for multiple factors,
analysis of variance with repeated measures and Bonferroni post hoc test (P˂0.05)
were used for data analysis. The results showed that in the acquisition test, the
main effects of trial days and task complexity (in movement time) were significant.
These factors did not significantly influence movement error and their interaction.
In immediate retention test, the effects of the type of task and feedback (in
movement time) were significant while these factors did not significantly influence
movement error and their interaction. In delayed retention test, the effect of the
type of task was significant in movement time and movement error. The types of
feedback and task were significant in transfer test (in movement time) and these
factors and their interactions were not significant in movement error. The results
suggested that the types of feedback and task can be regarded as effective
independent factors in learning. The types of feedback and task were more effective
for movement time.

Abstract It is important for people to improve cognitive and motor performance. The purpouse of this study was to investigate the effect of running on treadmill in spatial memory and learning and motor performance. 24 Albino-Wistar healthy male rats were randomly divided into control and activity groups. Activity group ran 7 days on treadmill (speed 22m/min 30 minutes a day). After the end of activity period, Morris Water Maze and open-field tests were done to respectively assess spatial learning and motor performance. It was used latency time, and distance moved to find platform to assess spatial learning, and distance moved, mobility duration, and movement speed to assess motor activity. It was used SEM±M and analyze variance (2groups*3days) and independent-t tests to analyze data.Results indicated that In spatial learning, activity group was significantly better in acquisition (distance moved F₂,₄₄=6/578  p=0/003 and latency time F₂,₄₄=10/550, p=0/000 ), probe (time spend in target quarter t₂₂=2/534 , p=0/019), and retrieval tests (distance moved t₂₂=2/651, p-0/015) than control group. In motor activity there was no significant difference between two groups.The results of this study show that the forced running of rats on treadmill for a week can improve learning and memory.

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a selected physical activity program on the development of motor skills in children with attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and high functioning autism (HFA). In this semiexperimental research, 20 children (8.8+0.7 years old) with HFA and 10 children (7.9+1.4 years old) with ADHD based on pretest scores were randomly selected. Bruininks – Oseretsky test of motor proficiency (BOTMP) for children with ADHD and test of gross motor developmental – 2 for children with HFA were used. Selected motor program (SPARK motor program) which included motor strengthening activities, games and sports for children was performed 18 sessions for ADHD children and 12 sessions for HFA children. K-S test to determine the normality of data distribution and statistical t tests, Levene test and covariate analysis were used to compare the means. The results showed the selected program made significant changes in most variables in ADHD and HFA children in experiment group but not in control group. According to the results of this research, it is suggested that the selected physical activity program (SPARK) can improve motor skills in children with ADHD and HFA.

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the effect of external focus of attention instruction during walking training on old women’s gait kinematic parameters including stride length, velocity, variability of velocity, cadence and double support percent. For this purpose, 16 old women (mean age 69.8+4 years) were selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (each group 8 subjects). Pretest, posttest, control group design was used in this study. The experimental group preformed an easy secondary task including rehearsing random strings of digits during walking on a certain pathway; they had to verbally recall these strings at the end of the pathway. The control group performed the same procedure without the secondary task. The groups trained for 12 weeks and 3 sessions per week. Paired t test was used to compare the difference in the mean scores before (pretest) and after (posttest) intervention in each group. Independent t test was also used to evaluate the differences in means between experimental and control groups. The results showed no significant differences between pretest and posttest mean scores of stride length, velocity, variability of velocity, cadence and double support percent in control group (P>0.05), but the differences between pretest and posttest mean scores of stride length, velocity, variability of velocity for experimental group were significant (P<0.05). The results also showed significant differences in posttest mean scores of stride length, velocity, variability of velocity of gait between the two groups (P<0.05), but not in cadence and double support percent (P>0.05). It can be concluded that external attention instruction during walking training can influence some gait kinematic parameters of old women. It seems that the intervention used in this study could effectively influence old women’s gait pattern through modifying attention process.

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sport orientation and competitive anxiety in male and female athletes of team and individual sports who participated in 10th student sport Olympiad (1389). The present study was descriptive and correlation method was used. For this purpose, 688 subjects (337 females and 351 males) were selected as the sample by simple random sampling method. All subjects in the sport camp filled out Gill sport orientation and a few hours before the competition, they filled out Martin’s competitive anxiety questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by multivariate regression analysis, multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent t test. The results showed that sport orientation could predict competitive anxiety. In fact, when competitiveness and goal orientation increased, competitive anxiety reduced while when win orientation increased, competitive anxiety increased as well. Female athletes were more anxious than males (P=0.001). Those subjects who were a member of individual sports had more competitive anxiety than team sports (P=0.004). Male athletes were more competitive and win oriented than female athletes while female athletes were more goal oriented than male athletes (P=0.002). However, there was no significant difference in sport orientation between team and individual sports (P>0.05).

Abstract The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of physical exercise and addiction of female rats on male offspring's physical growth indexes. The research method was experimental. Statistical population consisted of female rats (albino – wistar) obtained from Pasteur Institute, Iran. The data were gathered from 116 male offspring (including 4 groups: addicted mother– sporting mother – addictive sporting mother and intact group) and 80 mothers (to estimate the length of pregnancy). The drug used in this study was manufactured by Daroopakhsh factory. The findings from physical growth indexes (height, weight, head circumference and gestational days) suggested that addiction (before pregnancy) played an effective role in physical growth indexes within the first 5 days which can be due to the increased pregnancy period (P<0.001). But the growth process of those subjects born of sporting mothers was better (P<0.001) in a way that exercise in addicted mothers diminished the devastating effect of addiction.

Abstract The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of perceptual motor training on improving the motor abilities of children with developmental coordination disorder. A total of 194 male and female elementary school students (aged between 6 and 11) were selected from three regions of Tehran and participated voluntarily in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups of experimental and control. The subjects performed a pretest prior to participating in the training program. The training program included two months of adjusted perceptual motor activities for 24 sessions. Following the training program, both the experimental and control groups took part in the posttest. The test included manual dexterity, dynamic and static balance, and ball handling skills. The data were analyzed by PC: SPSS-13. The results showed that children with perceptual motor training significantly improved their development coordination disorder or dyspraxia.

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of self-controlled (SC) and instructor-controlled (IC) feedbacks on the acquisition of dart motor skill using videotape feedback. For this purpose, 200 female volunteer students of University of Tehran participated in this research. After the questioners had been filled out, 36 individuals were randomly selected from 152 qualified participants. After a 10-trial pretest, they were divided into three groups: SC, IC, and Yoked group. The SC group received videotape feedback whenever they asked for it; the IC group after 5 trails, and the yoked group at the points that SF group received it. All the groups were videotaped. Practice phase consisted of 100 trials including 10 10-trail blocks. Retention and transfer tests were carried out 48 hours later. Foe data analysis, one-way ANOVA, repeated measures and Tukey test were used and EXCEL software was used to draw the plots. The results showed that the type of feedback had a significant effect on the form and accuracy of dart motor skill in acquisition, retention and transfer (P<0.05). In general, the results showed that self-controlled group had a better performance than yoked and instructor-controlled groups.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to introduce the methods to extract and to interpret cinematic data in order to explain movement pattern changes via joint coupling and freezing/freeing phenomena in a healthy right-dominant college male (age:26, height: 172 cm, weight: 80 kg) who practiced balance maintenance on a stabilometer. Data were gathered using a three-dimensional registration system which consisted of three cameras and a computer program (Sharif Motion Analyzer-SMA) in MATLAB software and measured the position of 19 passive markers located on subject's limbs and stabilometer. Before each trial, the system was calibrated by a metal frame of known dimensions to transform the two-dimensional camera detector values to real three-dimensional coordinates. Then, the following variables were calculated for the first, fifth and ninth trail from a 3(session) × 3(trail) course of practice: 1) stabilometer variability as a performance index; 2) absolute and relative variability of joint angles to evaluate possible freezing-freeing process; 3) cross-correlations between the angular time series in order to evaluate the presence of joint coupling. Finally, the interpretation method to extract variables was presented and some limits of such studies regarding the variability in degrees of freedom were provided.

Abstract The relationship between relaxation and rhythmic exercises with regard to functional neuroplasticity mechanism is a subject that has been studied in recent researches. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rhythmic exercises on the depth of relaxation in national judo athletes. 30 male athletes of national judo team were randomly selected and divided into three groups: control, experimental 1 (relaxation) and experimental 2 (relaxation and rhythmic), 10 subjects each group. Data were obtained from a three-month period (two 6- weeks, the first 6-weeks relaxation for experimental 1 and 2 groups, the second 6-weeks relaxation and rhythmic exercises for experimental 1 and 2 groups and no exercise for control group) by EMG index. ANOVA and repeated measures tests were used to analyze the data. Findings showed a significant difference in the relaxation skill among groups. On the other hand, exercise periods increased relaxation and rhythmic exercises reinforced relaxation depth. Findings indicated that rhythmic exercises could improve relaxation and its depth.