The Effects of Taekwondo Training on Peripheral Neuroplasticity-Related Growth Factors, Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity, and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Although regular Taekwondo (TKD) training has been reported to be effective for improving cognitive function in children, the mechanism underlying this improvement remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to observe changes in neuroplasticity-related growth factors in the blood, assess cerebral blood flow velocity, and verify the resulting changes in children’s cognitive function after TKD training. Thirty healthy elementary school students were randomly assigned to control (n = 15) and TKD (n = 15) groups. The TKD training was conducted for 60 min at a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of 11–15, 5 times per week, for 16 weeks. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels were measured by blood sampling before and after the training, and the cerebral blood flow velocities (peak systolic [MCAs], end diastolic [MCAd], mean cerebral blood flow velocities [MCAm], and pulsatility index [PI]) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were measured using Doppler ultrasonography. For cognitive function assessment, Stroop Color and Word Tests (Word, Color, and Color-Word) were administered along with other measurements. The serum BDNF, VEGF, and IGF-1 levels and the Color-Word test scores among the sub-factors of the Stroop Color and Word Test scores were significantly higher in the TKD group after the intervention (p < 0.05). On the other hand, no statistically significant differences were found in any factors related to cerebral blood flow velocities, or in the Word test and Color test scores (p > 0.05). Thus, 16-week TKD training did not significantly affect cerebral blood flow velocities, but the training may have been effective in increasing children’s cognitive function by inducing an increase in the levels of neuroplasticity-related growth factors.

Effects of Regular Taekwondo Intervention on Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Myokines in Overweight and Obese Adolescents

“…Taekwondo training was conducted for 60 minutes, five times a week, for 16 weeks according to the Taekwondo intervention method by Cho et al [31]. All interventions were conducted through demonstration and instruction by a Taekwondo expert.…”

COREMatters: A Bullying Intervention Pilot Study

“…This research did not conclude whether the program as a whole or any of the individual components were most influential in the results observed. Further, other research has asserted that neuroplasticity-related growth factors (Cho, So, et al, 2017;Kaunhoven & Dorjee, 2017), positive emotional state (Kaunhoven & Dorjee, 2017), self-regulation (Kaunhoven & Dorjee, 2017;Milligan et al, 2015), and mindfulness (Greenberg & Harris, 2012;Kaunhoven & Dorjee, 2017;Milligan et al, 2015) may contribute to cognitive and social-emotional improvements associated with interventions that include or are comprised of martial arts. Future studies that clarify the mechanisms of improvement are needed.…”

“…Researchers acknowledge the dearth of studies that examine the mechanisms underlying cognitive and social-emotional improvements related to martial arts study (Cho, So, & Roh, 2017;Harwood et al, 2017). Nevertheless, at the neurocognitive level, scientists suggest that an increase in the levels of neuroplasticity-related growth factors contribute to improvement in cognitive functioning (Cho, So, et al, 2017;Kaunhoven & Dorjee, 2017).…”

“…Researchers acknowledge the dearth of studies that examine the mechanisms underlying cognitive and social-emotional improvements related to martial arts study (Cho, So, & Roh, 2017;Harwood et al, 2017). Nevertheless, at the neurocognitive level, scientists suggest that an increase in the levels of neuroplasticity-related growth factors contribute to improvement in cognitive functioning (Cho, So, et al, 2017;Kaunhoven & Dorjee, 2017). Evidence also indicates that positive emotional state (Kaunhoven & Dorjee, 2017), self-regulation (Kaunhoven & Dorjee, 2017;Lakes & Hoyt;Milligan et al, 2017;Milligan, Badali, & Spiroiu, 2015), and mindfulness (Greenberg & Harris, 2012;Kaunhoven & Dorjee, 2017;Milligan et al, 2015) are key processes that undergird positive outcomes of martial arts study.…”

Selected Aspects of Martial Arts for Health Underlying Their Pro-Active Influence in the Context of Central Nervous System Plasticity

“…Taekwon-do training gives the big chance to strengthen in mind as well as body (Kim, 2015;Cho, 2017). It is a Korean martial art, the name of which is composed of three words: tae-meaning a foot, kick, kwon-fist, fist hit, do-i.e.…”