Volume : 10, Issue : 2, FEB 2024

EFFECT OF PARKOUR EXERCISES ON PSYCHOMOTOR VARIABLES OF DIFFERENT SPORTS PLAYERS

MR. PUSHPAK KHONDE, DR. SANJAY S. TIRATHKAR

Abstract

Psychomotor abilities such as agility, reaction time, and balance are essential foundations of athletic performance. While conventional training methods emphasize strength and conditioning, emerging evidence suggests that parkour-based training may enhance transferable neuromotor skills across multiple sports. This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of an eight-week structured parkour training program on selected psychomotor and sport-specific performance variables among 90 athletes aged 16–22 years (swimmers = 30, football players = 30, basketball players = 30). Participants were randomly allocated into an experimental group undergoing parkour sessions three times per week (n = 45) and a control group continuing routine training (n = 45). Pre- and post-test assessments included the Y-Balance Test, Wall Toss Test, T-Test for agility, and ruler drop test for reaction time, along with sport-specific performance indicators. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant improvements in all psychomotor outcomes for the experimental group compared to controls (F (3, 86) = 15.42, p < .001). Effect size analysis indicated sport-specific response patterns, with football athletes showing the greatest improvement in agility (Cohen’s d = 0.88), basketball players demonstrating the highest gains in balance and coordination (d = 0.91), and swimmers exhibiting the most notable improvement in reaction time (d = 0.85). Performance outcomes mirrored these trends: swimmers reduced 50 m freestyle completion times by 3.1%, football players improved Illinois Agility Test scores by 6.2% and dribbling accuracy by 8.5% (p < .01), and basketball players improved shooting accuracy by 7.8% and dribbling speed by 5.3% (p < .05). Graphical visualizations showed clear post-test performance separation between experimental and control cohorts, particularly in balance where the basketball experimental group increased from approximately 62 to 68 points on the balance scale. Collectively, results demonstrate that parkour training produces measurable improvements in neuromotor function and sport-specific performance, supporting its use as an effective supplementary conditioning approach for athletes across diverse sporting contexts.

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IESRJ

International Educational Scientific Research Journal

E-ISSN: 2455-295X

International Indexed Journal | Multi-Disciplinary Refereed Research Journal

ISSN: 2455-295X

Peer-Reviewed Journal - Equivalent to UGC Approved Journal

Peer-Reviewed Journal

Article No : 17

Number of Downloads : 131

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