Journal of Sports and Motor Development and Learning

Abstract Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of different mental and physical training methods on the motor function of girls and boys.
Methods: This study was quasi-experimental research. The statistical sample consisted of 80 male and female students of Boshruyeh City in equal numbers and with a mean age of 14±0.9 years old who were randomly assigned into four groups of 20 participants (Physical Training, Traditional Imagery, PETTLEP, and Control groups). The participants took part in the pre-test and then practiced for six weeks. After training, they participated in the acquisition test To analyze the data, one-way analysis of variance, two-way repeated measures analysis of variance, and LSD post hoc tests were used. A significance level of 0.05 was considered.
Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference in motor function between boys and girls based on the different training methods. The motor function of both genders has improved significantly in the Physical Training and PETTLEP groups. Also, the level of motor function of girls and boys was significantly better in the PETTLEP group than in other groups. In addition, Boys in PETTLEP have better motor function than girls.
Conclusion: The findings of the study highlight the importance and necessity of paying attention to the methods of physical training and PETTLEP in improving the motor function of students according to their gender. An increase in the motor function of students can be expected especially for boys, by adding the PETTLEP in their training plan.

Abstract  
The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the number of training sessions in a week on psychological factors and memory of sedentary elderly. For this purpose, 45 sedentary male elderly (mean age, 73.15±6.54 years; height, 166.5±3.10 cm; weight, 64.45±4.06 kg; body mass index (BMI), 23.49±1.51 kg/m²) were voluntarily selected and divided into two training groups and one control group with their own desire. The 8-week training program in two-session group consisted of running with intensity of 40-55% of maximum heart rate for 2 sessions a week. Subjects in four-session group used a training program with similar intensity of two-session group for 4 sessions a week. Depression, anxiety, happiness and memory status were measured using the Beck Depression, Beck Anxiety, Oxford Happiness and Wechsler Memory tests. Data were analyzed using paired t test and one-way ANOVA (P<0.05). The results showed a significant improvement in psychological factors and memory in experimental groups compared with the control group (P<0.05). Subjects who had practiced four sessions a week showed more improvement in depression, anxiety, happiness and some memory factors. Generally, both training programs had useful adaptation and increased number of training sessions has more influence in the improvement of psychological factors and memory in the elderly.

Abstract In recent years, researchers have become interested in examining the effect of PETTLEP imagery on motor performance and how PETTLEP imagery can improve the performance. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of PETTLEP imagery and balance practice on dynamic balance in the elderly. Participants were 42 male elderly in Arak city. They were divided into 4 groups based on the scores of dynamic balance pretest. In order to measure dynamic balance, Bass and Star Balance tests were used. Homogeneous training groups included PETTLEP imagery, balance practice, mixed practice (balance practice and PETTLEP imagery practice) and control group. All groups except for the control group practiced 3 sessions (each session 45 min.) a week for 6 weeks. MANOVA with repeated measures was used to analyze the data (P≤0.01). Results showed the mixed and balance practice groups significantly  improved in Bass and Star dynamic balance (P=0.000, P=0.001, P=0.000, P=0.000). PETTLEP imagery and control groups showed no significant improvement in Bass and Star dynamic balance (P=0.24, P=0.53, P=0.36, P=0.28). Also, the mixed group had more improvement in Bass and Star dynamic balance than balance practice group (P=0.002, P=0.004). Overall, these results showed that PETTLEP imagery practice along with physical training improved dynamic balance in male elderly, but PETTLEP imagery alone did not affect the improvement of dynamic balance in the male elderly.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of physical training and working memory training on mental rotation ability. 45 non-athlete female students were purposively selected and randomly assigned to one of these groups: aerobic training, working memory training and control (each group 15 subjects). This study was quasi-experimental, which was a type of pretest-posttest with a control group. Mental rotation test was conducted for the sample. Physical training and working memory training groups participated respectively in aerobic training and working memory training for 30 minutes daily for two weeks. The control group performed their daily activities. Results of ANOVA with repeated measures showed that aerobic and working memory training affected mental rotation ability (P≤0.05). The findings suggested that cognitive abilities are facilitated by cognitive and motor interventions.

Abstract The concept of imagery is to make an image of successful movement skill or a relaxing image in mind with no body training and external experience. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of traditional and PETTLEP mental imagery methods on static and dynamic balance. The statistical population consisted of all female University of Tehran students who had general physical education course (1) in the first educational semester in 1389-1390. 54 participants (Mean age 21.94±1.89 yrs) attended voluntary in this study. First, they completed the Revised Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-R: Hall & Martin, 1997). Afterwards, pretest of static balance (Stork Balance Test) and dynamic balance (Modified Bass Test of Dynamic Balance) were performed. Participants were randomly assigned to three (n=18) groups (Physical training, Traditional imagery and PETTLEP imagery) and trained for 12 weeks (20 min/week). Finally, posttests of static and dynamic balance were performed under the same condition as the pretest. Retention test was performed 24 hours later and transfer test 30 minutes after the retention test. One-way ANOVA test showed no significant difference in static balance, dynamic balance and imagery ability scores in pretest among groups (p>0.05). Although ANOVA with repeated measures illustrated that although all three groups improved significantly in static and dynamic balance (P<0.05), there were no significant differences in posttest among them (P>0.05). Overall, results showed PETTLEP imagery was an effective method but not sufficiently efficient in dynamic balance.