Healthy Volunteer StudyDL_BP_RCTNCT07628465
Differential Learning Enhances Motor Performance and Retention in Sport Science Students
A study testing Differential Learning and Blocked Practice in people with Healthy Volunteer Study, run by The Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax at 1 site in Tunisia.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial compared differential learning (DL) versus blocked practice (BP) on motor performance and retention in 100 sport science students. Participants performed a table tennis topspin serve. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Volunteer Study
- What is being tested?
- Differential Learning and Blocked Practice
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTunisia
- Study dates
- 2 Jun 2025to 30 Jun 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Undergraduate sport science student
- Age 18 to 25 years
- Physically active but non-expert in table tennis (less than 2 hours per week of structured practice in the past year)
- Absence of self-reported musculoskeletal injury affecting upper or lower limbs
- No known neurological or sleep disorders
- No use of medication affecting motor or cognitive function
- No irregular sleep schedules
Who cannot join
- Regular table tennis competition
- Injury preventing practice
- Known sleep disorder
- Inability to provide informed consent
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Tunisia1 site
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax (ISSEP Sfax)
Sfax, 3000
About this study
Official title: Differential Learning Enhances Motor Performance and Retention in Sport Science Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial compared differential learning (DL) versus blocked practice (BP) on motor performance and retention in 100 sport science students. Participants performed a table tennis topspin serve. DL involved continuous movement variations without corrective feedback; BP involved repetition with corrective feedback. Outcomes included accuracy (Euclidean distance) and movement variability (ApEn). Assessments at baseline, post-intervention (after 6 sessions over 3 weeks), and 7-day retention.
Read the detailed description
A two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial. One hundred undergraduate sport science students (age 18-25 years) were randomly assigned to differential learning (DL, n=50) or blocked practice (BP, n=50). The DL group performed a table tennis topspin serve with continuous pseudo-random variations across five movement dimensions (stance, backswing amplitude, execution speed, trunk rotation, wrist action) without corrective feedback. The BP group repeated a standardized movement pattern with trial-by-trial corrective feedback. Both groups completed six training sessions over three weeks (two sessions per week, 45 min each). Motor performance (accuracy measured as Euclidean distance from target center) was assessed at baseline, post-intervention (within 48h), and retention (7 days later). Movement variability was quantified using approximate entropy (ApEn) from kinematic data. Theoretical knowledge of motor learning was assessed as a potential moderator. Linear mixed-effects models, moderation analysis, and mediation analysis (bootstrapping) were performed. The trial was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Conditions
- Healthy Volunteer Study
- Being tested
- Differential Learning, Blocked Practice
- Keywords
- differential learning, blocked practice, motor performance, retention, movement variability
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Differential LearningBehavioural
Participants performed table tennis topspin serve with continuous pseudo-random variations across five movement dimensions (stance, backswing amplitude, execution speed, trunk rotation, wrist action) without corrective feedback.
Blocked PracticeBehavioural
Participants repeated a standardized movement pattern with trial-by-trial corrective feedback focusing on consistency and accuracy.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Differential Learning Group | Experimental | Participants performed table tennis topspin serve with continuous variations across five movement dimensions (stance, backswing amplitude, execution speed, trunk rotation, wrist action) without corrective feedback. Receives: Behavioral: Differential Learning |
| Blocked Practice Group | Active comparator | Participants repeated a standardized movement pattern with trial-by-trial corrective feedback focusing on consistency and accuracy. Receives: Behavioral: Blocked Practice |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Motor Performance (Accuracy)
Euclidean distance (in cm) between the ball's first landing point and the center of the target area during a table tennis topspin serve.
Measured: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (after 3 weeks), and 7-day retention
Secondary outcomes (1)
Movement Variability
Approximate entropy (ApEn) derived from kinematic time-series data recorded during each trial. Higher ApEn values indicate greater movement complexity and adaptability.
Measured: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (after 3 weeks), and 7-day retention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Jun 2026
- Study start2 Jun 2025
- Primary completion30 Jun 2025
- Study completion30 Jun 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Healthy Volunteer StudyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Kais Elabed, The Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax
- Investigators
- Kais El Abed, Phd, Principal investigator, University of Sfax, Tunisia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07628465
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ISSEP_DL_BP_2025
- Acronym
- DL_BP_RCT
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 30 May 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Chmara P, Brzykcy A, Brazevic S, Jozwiak M. Habitual Physical Activity and Walking Endurance Following Inpatient Rehabilitation in Children With Cerebral Palsy. Cureus. 2026 May 29;18(5):e109862. doi: 10.7759/cureus.109862. eCollection 2026 May.
PubMed 42371465
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Differential Learning Enhances Motor Performance and Retention in Sport Science Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07628465
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DL_BP_RCT / ISSEP_DL_BP_2025
- Conditions
- Healthy Volunteer Study
- Keywords
- differential learning, blocked practice, motor performance, retention, movement variability
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of SfaxUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled trial compared differential learning (DL) versus blocked practice (BP) on motor performance and retention in 100 sport science students. Participants performed a table tennis topspin serve. DL involved continuous movement variations without corrective feedback; BP involved repetition with corrective feedback. Outcomes included accuracy (Euclidean distance) and movement variability (ApEn). Assessments at baseline, post-intervention (after 6 sessions over 3 weeks), and 7-day retention.
Detailed description
A two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial. One hundred undergraduate sport science students (age 18-25 years) were randomly assigned to differential learning (DL, n=50) or blocked practice (BP, n=50). The DL group performed a table tennis topspin serve with continuous pseudo-random variations across five movement dimensions (stance, backswing amplitude, execution speed, trunk rotation, wrist action) without corrective feedback. The BP group repeated a standardized movement pattern with trial-by-trial corrective feedback. Both groups completed six training sessions over three weeks (two sessions per week, 45 min each). Motor performance (accuracy measured as Euclidean distance from target center) was assessed at baseline, post-intervention (within 48h), and retention (7 days later). Movement variability was quantified using approximate entropy (ApEn) from kinematic data. Theoretical knowledge of motor learning was assessed as a potential moderator. Linear mixed-effects models, moderation analysis, and mediation analysis (bootstrapping) were performed. The trial was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Differential Learning Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Differential LearningParticipants performed table tennis topspin serve with continuous variations across five movement dimensions (stance, backswing amplitude, execution speed, trunk rotation, wrist action) without corrective feedback. |
| Blocked Practice Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Blocked PracticeParticipants repeated a standardized movement pattern with trial-by-trial corrective feedback focusing on consistency and accuracy. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Undergraduate sport science student
- Age 18 to 25 years
- Physically active but non-expert in table tennis (less than 2 hours per week of structured practice in the past year)
- Absence of self-reported musculoskeletal injury affecting upper or lower limbs
- No known neurological or sleep disorders
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Regular table tennis competition
- Injury preventing practice
- Known sleep disorder
- Inability to provide informed consent
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Differential LearningParticipants performed table tennis topspin serve with continuous pseudo-random variations across five movement dimensions (stance, backswing amplitude, execution speed, trunk rotation, wrist action) without corrective feedback. | Behavioural | Differential Learning Group |
| Blocked PracticeParticipants repeated a standardized movement pattern with trial-by-trial corrective feedback focusing on consistency and accuracy. | Behavioural | Blocked Practice Group |
Primary outcome
Motor Performance (Accuracy)
Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (after 3 weeks), and 7-day retention
Euclidean distance (in cm) between the ball's first landing point and the center of the target area during a table tennis topspin serve.
1 secondary outcome
Movement Variability
Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (after 3 weeks), and 7-day retention
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jun 2026.
- Background: PubMed 42371465Chmara P, Brzykcy A, Brazevic S, Jozwiak M. Habitual Physical Activity and Walking Endurance Following Inpatient Rehabilitation in Children With Cerebral Palsy. Cureus. 2026 May 29;18(5):e109862. doi: 10.7759/cureus.109862. eCollection 2026 May.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Kais El Abed, Phd principal investigator
University of Sfax, Tunisia
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Differential Learning and Blocked Practice in people with Healthy Volunteer Study, run by The Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax at 1 site in Tunisia.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Tunisia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Motor Performance (Accuracy) (time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (after 3 weeks), and 7-day retention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07628465, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jun 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.