Motor Tests in Primary and Secondary School: Exploring Basic Motor Skills in Children

The foundations for an adult’s authentic and durable dedication in sport or in any kind of motor activity are laid by providing a good quality physical education.This means that the choice of learning experiences to be imparted to the child throughout his or her school curriculum,starting from kindergarten,is important and must be not only planned,inclusive and progressive but also,in some way,personalised.In other words,lessons must respond to the children’s needs in order to enhance their motor skills and abilities and their social skills and to give an input on how to lead a physically active life,thus keeping basic motor skills alive.The research involved the administration of the Mobak 5-6 Test on a convenience sample of 31 children(f=12,m=19),aged 10-12 years,in order to analyse the basic motor skills of a group of young athletes.An individual qualitative and quantitative motor repertoire must therefore be built,allowing the child to be able to take the opportunities offered to him or her in both curricular and extracurricular scholastic field.These motor skills,with which the child is provided,will also be useful for cultivating correct physical activity habits in later life and must be formed through systematic evaluation of the development of his or her motor skills.

Research on the Impact of Core Strength Training on the Motor Skills of Tennis Beginners

With the popularity of tennis in the sports world,more and more beginners are joining this sport.However,for beginners,how to improve motor skills and game performance is still an important issue.Core strength training has potential as a potential adjunct to improve overall fitness and skill in athletes.Therefore,this research aimed to explore the potential impact of core strength training on the motor skills of tennis beginners to provide better training strategies and guidance for coaches and athletes.

Fundamental motor skills,screen-time,and physical activity in preschoolers

Purpose: To examine the associations among preschoolers fundamental motor skills, screen-time, physical activity(PA), and sedentary behavior(SB).Methods: Children ages 3à4 years were enrolled in a prospective observational trial of PA. Trained assessors conducted the Test of Gross Motor Development-3 rd edition(TGMD-3), and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 nd edition, and parent-reported child screen-time and sociodemographic information. Children wore an accelerometer for 7 days to examine SB and total PA(TPA). TPA was further characterized as moderateto-vigorous PA(MVPA) or vigorous PA(VPA). Mixed linear models were calculated, controlling for age(for TGMD-3), sex, household income, and accelerometer wear time(for accelerometry models), with childcare center as a random effect. The primary analysis reported on the cross-sectional baseline data of 126 children with complete fundamental motor skill and screen-time data; a subanalysis included 88 children with complete accelerometry data.Results: Children were 3.4 § 0.5 years of age(54% girls; 46% white, 42% African American, 12% other). A total of 48% lived in households at or below the federal poverty level. Children engaged in 5.1 § 3.6 h/day of screen-time. Children's screen-time was inversely related to the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 nd edition, manual dexterity skills percentile(b(SE) = ?1.7(0.8), p = 0.049). In the accelerometry subsample,children engaged in 5.9 § 0.9 h/day of TPA of which 1.7 § 0.6 h/day was MVPA. Boys engaged in more MVPA and VPA and less SB compared with girls(all p < 0.05). A higher TGMD-3, total score(b(SE) = 0.4(0.2), p = 0.017) and locomotor score(b(SE) = 0.7(0.3), p = 0.018) were associated with more VPA but not with TPA or MVPA. Screen-time and television in the bedroom were not related to SB, TPA, MVPA, or VPA.Conclusion: Children's motor skills were positively related to VPA but inversely related to screen-time. Further inquiry into the implications of high exposure to screen-time in young children is needed.

The effect of the CHAMP intervention on fundamental motor skills and outdoor physical activity in preschoolers

Purpose: Physical activity(PA) and fundamental motor skills are important components of current and future trajectories of health in young children. This study examined the effects of a 5-week motor skill intervention on preschoolers' motor skill competence and their PA behaviors while participating in the motor skill intervention or outdoor free play(recess).Methods: A total of 102 preschoolers served as participants and were part of a motor skill intervention group(n = 64) or a control/outdoor free play group(n = 38). Children's motor skills were assessed before and after the intervention using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3 rd edition. PA during the motor skill intervention and outdoor free play was assessed using accelerometers both immediately before the start(baseline, Week 0 or Week 1) and end(late, Week 5 or Week 6) of the intervention.Results: All children significantly improved their motor skills from baseline to late assessment(p < 0.05). Children in the motor skill intervention demonstrated greater rates of change(p < 0.001) and scored higher on all motor skills at the late assessment compared with the control group(p < 0.001). There was no effect of group(control vs. intervention), but there was a significant effect of sex on children's PA during outdoor free play at baseline(p < 0.05). Similarly, there was no effect of group on PA during days with the movement program(intervention vs. outdoor free play) at either time point, but boys were more active than girls at the late assessment(p < 0.05). Last, children in the intervention engaged in more PA while participating in the intervention toward the end of the intervention than at the beginning.Conclusion: The 5-week motor skill intervention was effective at improving preschoolers' motor skills and rates of change in motor skills were higher for children who completed the intervention compared with children in the control group. Preschoolers in the intervention did demonstrate PA changes while participating in the intervention, but these changes did not translate outside of the intervention setting.

Association between fundamental motor skills and physical activity in the early years:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Physical activity(PA)in the early years is associated with a range of positive health outcomes.Fundamental motor skill(FMS)competence is associated with PA and is theorized to be driven by PA in the early years and vice versa in mid to late childhood.However,to date,no studies have meta-analyzed the association between PA and FMS in the early years.Methods:Six electronic databases were searched for articles published up to April 2019.Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies were included if they targeted children(ages 3-6 year)as the population of the study and assessed the association between objectively measured PA and FMS.Total FMS,total physical activity(TPA),and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA)data were meta-analyzed using a random effects model.Results:We identified 24,815 titles and abstracts.In total,19 studies met the inclusion criteria,including 14 cross-sectional and 4 longitudinal studies,as well as 1 study with cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis.There was a significant but small positive association between FMS and MVPA(r=0.20,95%confidence interval(CI):0.13-0.26)and TPA(r=0.20,95%CI:0.12-0.28).Findings from longitudinal studies revealed that PA drives FMS in early childhood.Mediation was explored in 1 study,which found that perceived motor competence did not mediate the association between FMS and PA.Conclusion:Using a meta-analysis,this study is the first to show a positive association between FMS,MVPA,and TPA in the early years of childhood,suggesting that the association begins at an early age.Limited evidence from longitudinal studies supports the theory that PA drives FMS in the early years of childhood.More evidence is needed from large studies to track PA and FMS until mid to late childhood and to explore the mediators of this association.

The Impact of Fidget Spinners on Fine Motor Skills in Individuals with and without ADHD: An Exploratory Analysis

Fidget spinners have been marketed as repetitive motion devices that improve attention and motor performance, and as such, they have become quite appealing to individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). To date, no studies have explored changes in brain activity that may occur due to fidgeting in ADHD. Our aim was to use functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during the performance of a standardized fine motor skills test after using a fidget spinner. Eight right-handed adults with ADHD and eight age and gender matched adults without ADHD (4F/4M, 4 control/4 fidget) performed the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) while their brain oxygenation was monitored using fNIRS. Relative neural efficiency (RNE) and involvement (RNI) were calculated and analyzed for all subtasks of PPT including the less cognitively demanding fine motor subtasks and more complex assembly tasks. The fidget spinner improved both task performance and RNE in the ADHD group but not the non-ADHD group for the less cognitively demanding subtasks. Our results indicate Fidget spinners may improve both relative neural efficiency and fine motor performance in adults with ADHD for less cognitively demanding tasks.

The Effects of Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program on Motor Skills inChildren with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Therapeutic horseback riding(THR)as an animal-assisted intervention is one of the innovative approaches emer-ging in the treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD).The current study was designed to inves-tigate the effects of a 12-week,twice a week THR program on motor skills in sixty-eight children with ASD aged 5–10 years old.All participants selected met the DSM-V criteria for ASD,and a total offifty-three participants completed the study.A randomized controlled trial design was utilized for the study.Data was collected via a pre-THR test,interim-THR test,and post-THR test to investigate the possible changes in motor skills throughout the 12-week THR program.Results showed that the THR program significantly improved overall motor skills across time points(p<0.05)and sub-skills of run,gallop and two-hand catch(as compared to the control group,p<0.05).In conclusion,the THR program may be an effective option for improving motor skills in children with ASD and further investigation with a longer period of intervention is warranted.

Can coordination variability identify performance factors and skill level in competitive sport? The case of race walking

Background:Marginal changes in the execution of competitive sports movements can represent a significant change for performance success.However,such differences may emerge only at certain execution intensities and are not easily detectable through conventional biomechanical techniques.This study aimed to investigate if and how competition standard and progression speed affect race walking kinematics from both a conventional and a coordination variability perspective.Methods:Fifteen experienced athletes divided into three groups(elite,international,and national) were studied while race walking on a treadmill at two different speeds(12.0 and 15.5 km/h).Basic gait parameters,the angular displacement of the pelvis and lower limbs,and the variability in continuous relative phase between six different joint couplings were analyzed.Results:Most of the spatio-temporal,kinematic,and coordination variability measures proved sensitive to the change in speed.Conversely,non-linear dynamics measures highlighted differences between athletes of different competition standard when conventional analytical tools were not able to discriminate between different skill levels.Continuous relative phase variability was higher for national level athletes than international and elite in two couplings(pelvis obliquity—hip flex/extension and pelvis rotation—ankle dorsi/plantarflexion) and gait phases(early stance for the first coupling,propulsive phase for the second) that are deemed fundamental for correct technique and performance.Conclusion:Measures of coordination variability showed to be a more sensitive tool for the fine detection of skill-dependent factors in competitive race walking,and showed good potential for being integrated in the assessment and monitoring of sports motor abilities.

Application of a hospital–community–family trinity rehabilitation nursing model combined with motor imagery therapy in patients with cerebral infarction

BACKGROUND Rehabilitation nursing is considered an indispensable part of the cerebral infarction treatment system.The hospital–community–family trinity rehabilitation nursing model can provide continuous nursing services across hospitals,communities,and families for patients.AIM To explore the application of a hospital–community–family rehabilitation nursing model combined with motor imagery therapy in patients with cerebral infarction.METHODS From January 2021 to December 2021,88 patients with cerebral infarction were divided into a study(n=44)and a control(n=44)group using a simple random number table.The control group received routine nursing and motor imagery therapy.The study group was given hospital–community–family trinity rehabilitation nursing based on the control group.Motor function(FMA),balance ability(BBS),activities of daily living(BI),quality of life(SS-QOL),activation status of the contralateral primary sensorimotor cortical area to the affected side,and nursing satisfaction were evaluated before and after intervention in both groups.RESULTS Before intervention,FMA and BBS were similar(P>0.05).After 6 months’intervention,FMA and BBS were significantly higher in the study than in the control group(both P<0.05).Before intervention,BI and SS-QOL scores were not different between the study and control group(P>0.05).However,after 6months’intervention,BI and SS-QOL were higher in the study than in the control group(P<0.05).Before intervention,activation frequency and volume were similar between the study and the control group(P>0.05).After 6 months’intervention,the activation frequency and volume were higher in the study than in the control group(P<0.05).The reliability,empathy,reactivity,assurance,and tangibles scores for quality of nursing service were higher in the study than in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Combining a hospital–community–family trinity rehabilitation nursing model and motor imagery therapy enhances the motor function and balance ability of patients with cerebral infarction,improving their quality of life.

Prior Somatic Stimulation Improves Performance of Acquired Motor Skill by Facilitating Functional Connectivity in Cortico-Subcortical Motor Circuits

Once people have a well-trained motor skill, their performance becomes stabilized and achieving substantial improvement is difficult. Recently, we have shown that even a plateaued hand motor skill can be upgraded with short-period electrical stimulation to the hand prior to the task. Here, we identify the neuronal substrates underlying the improvement of the plateaued skill by examining the enhanced functional connectivity in the sensory-motor regions that are associated with motor learning. We measured brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging and performed psychophysiological interaction analysis. We recruited seven right-handed very-well trained participants, whose motor performance of continuously rotating two balls with their right hands became stabilized at higher performance levels. We prepared two experiments, in each of which they repeated an experimental run 16 times. In each run, they performed this cyclic rotation as many times as possible in 16 s. In the thenar-stimulation experiment, we applied 60-s stimulation to the thenar muscle before each of the 5th - 12th runs, and the others were preceded by ineffective sham stimulation. In the control experiment, the sham was always provided. Thenar stimulation enabled the participants to perform the movements at higher cycles. In association with this performance improvement, we found enhanced activity couplings between the primary motor cortex and the sensorimotor territory of the putamen and between the cerebellum and the primary sensorimotor cortices, without any quantitative activity increase. Neither behavioral change nor these increased activity couplings were observed in the control.Thus, in contrast to the stable neuronal states in the cortico-subcortical motor circuits when the well-learned task is repeated at the later stages of motor skill learning, plastic changes in the motor circuits seem to be required when the plateaued skill is upgraded, and the stimulation may entail a state of readiness for the plastic change that allows subsequent performance improvement.

The Effects of a Community and School Sport-Based Program on Urban Indigenous Adolescents’ Life Skills and Physical Activity Levels: The <i>SCP</i>Case Study

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a community and school sport program (SCP) on Indigenous adolescents’ life skills and physical activity levels within program sessions. A secondary aim was to determine the acceptability of the SCP. Participants in the SCP (n = 34;89%) participated in a 10-week case study (age = 13.7 ± 1.16;58% girls). Systematic observations of SCP sessions were conducted to determine physical activity levels and a life skills questionnaire was implemented. Acceptability measures included retention, implementation, attendance rates, and interviews with participants [n = 18] and key stakeholders [n = 6]. Systematic observations indicated that Indigenous students were engaged in MVPA for 58% of lesson time. Participants’ life skills remained unchanged (p = 0.93). Interview data showed that Indigenous students and key stakeholders believed the SCP was acceptable. This study highlights the need for partnerships between Indigenous community organisations and schools to design sport-based programs to promote Indigenous adolescents’ MVPA.

Integrating biomechanical and motor control principles in elite high jumpers： A transdisciplinary approach to enhancing sport performance

Background： In recent years, there has been a proliferation of technology and sport science utilized within an athlete＇s training, especially at the elite level. However, the sport science is a broad field, encompassing disciplines such as biomechanics, motor control and learning, exercise physiology, sports medicine, sport psychology to name a few. Rarely are these disciplines applied in an integrated manner. The purpose of this study was to document the effectiveness of an integrated biomechanics and motor control protocol for improving athlete＇s performance in the high jump. Methods： Four elite high jumpers performed baseline jumps under no^mal conditions and then jumps using a specific external focus of attention cue designed to improve their running posture. Three-dimensional biomeehanical analysis was used to quantify the upright posture throughout the approach as well as horizontal velocity at plant and vertical velocity at takeoff. Results： The results showed that when using the external focus of attention cue, the jumpers were significantly more upright during the approach, had significantly higher horizontal velocities at plant, and generated significantly greater vertical velocities during the takeoff. Conclusion： The results of this study lay the foundation for future work examining how integrating sport science disciplines can improve performance of elite level athletes.

Perceptual Visuo-Motor Skills and Handwriting Production of Children With Learning Disabilities

This study aimed to explore the performance of the perceptual-visuomotor skills and the production of handwriting in children with Learning Disabilities.A total of 56 children participated,being a convenience sample,of both sexes,average age of eight years old,from 3rd to 5th grade level of Elementary School.The children were divided into the following groups:GI(28 children diagnosed with Learning Disabilities);GII(28 children with good academic performance,paired with GI in relation to chronological age and sex).They were evaluated individually in dysgraphic scale,visual perception development test,and fine motor evaluation.Data analysis was performed.There was a significant difference between GI and GII for the subtests of eye-hand coordination,copying,visual closure,fine motor precision,and fine manual control tests.They had difference between the groups for handwriting performance in descending and/or ascending subtests,irregularity of dimension,poor forms,and total score of Dysgraphia Scale.The results presented in this study indicate that children with Learning Disabilities can manifest significant visomotor impairment and deficit in legibility and handwriting quality,causing failures in the elaboration of sensorimotor plans that,added to the intrinsic deficit of long-term memory,result in persistent academic difficulties.

运动能力形成过程阶段划分探究

运用文献研究、逻辑分析方法,依据相关理论,对运动能力形成过程的阶段划分进行研究。研究认为:运动能力形成是一个发展过程,分为有效激发兴趣、准确学习技术、熟练掌握技能与灵活运用技能4个阶段;每个阶段之间呈层级递进关系,即前一阶段的形成是后一阶段学习的前提。在落实“教会、勤练、常赛”的课程理念下,研究运动能力形成过程阶段划分,有助于实践者在培养过程中清晰其形成过程、明确各阶段培养目标,更有利于对学生运动能力培养,也为后续研究提供理论参考。

推拿手法实训教学以近带远训练方法初探

为使推拿手法初学者养成专业动作习惯,有效预防职业损伤,更好、更快地掌握推拿手法技能,高效的教学方法非常重要。此文从教育心理学关于动作技能形成的相关论述中获得启发,针对手法实训教学中注重的示范、练习和反馈环节所存在的问题进行分析和改革探索,提出分解示范和部分练习的教学思路,并通过对手法上肢动作运动方式的分析,把手法动作分解为单一动作,再由单一动作到复合动作,编排成体操,拟定了“以近带远”训练方法——“上肢手法操”六节,以期为推拿手法实训教学提供新的方法和思路。

德雷福斯技能习得模型的断裂及其弥合——兼论人工智能与人类智能的关系问题

德雷福斯在批判人类智能的认知主义模型的基础上,提出了其著名的技能习得模型,并在表征意向性之外增加了运动意向性的预设。他主张“表征意向性以运动意向性为基础”,并以此指导其人工智能哲学观。但在技能习得模型中,表征意向性与运动意向性之间存在根本的断裂,导致德雷福斯的技能习得模型面临内在的矛盾。这种矛盾源于德雷福斯坚持一种海德格尔式的类人人工智能理解。通过反思与悬搁这一人工智能理解,可以重新澄清表征意向性与运动意向性的关系,弥合技能习得模型中的断裂,并有助于揭示一种对人工智能与人类智能关系的新理解。德雷福斯与技能习得模型的技术哲学意义与这种新的关系理解息息相关。

中华体育精神融入体育课程一体化建设研究

将弘扬中华体育精神作为体育课程建设的出发点,解析中华体育精神蕴含的思想品德素养点,将素养点融入体育品德教育中,并通过行之有效的路径来实现体育工作在新时期的任务和目标。运用文献资料、历史分析、问卷调查、访谈、实验等方法,解析中华体育精神,将体育品德和运动技能作为一体化设计、实践体育课程的主线内容。体育课程一体化建设可以解决体育教学存在的蜻蜓点水、低水平重复等问题,促进学生的全面发展,为体教融合、体育课程一体化建设等提供新的研究思路。

注意缺陷多动障碍儿童粗大动作技能与执行功能发展的特点及关系

目的探讨学龄期注意缺陷多动障碍(ADHD)儿童的粗大动作技能和执行功能的发展特点及其相关关系。方法2020年11月至2021年5月于北京大学第六医院和北京市海淀区万泉小学招募90例ADHD儿童,从该小学另募集年龄和性别匹配的正常发育儿童90例。采用儿童粗大动作发展测试量表第三版(TGMD-3)评估儿童的粗大动作技能,采用Stroop色词测验(SCWT)、Rey-Osterrich复杂图形测验(ROCFT)、连线测验(TMT)分别评估儿童的抑制控制、工作记忆和认知灵活性。结果ADHD儿童TGMD-3得分显著低于正常儿童(t=-6.275,P<0.001),SCWT、ROCFT、TMT测试结果均差于正常儿童(|t|≥1.986,P≤0.05)。ADHD儿童的TGMD-3得分与字义反应时(r=-0.261)、字义错误数(r=-0.404)、颜色错误数(r=-0.326)呈负相关(P<0.05),与延时结构记忆得分(r=0.228)呈正相关(P<0.05),与TMT-A反应时(r=-0.255)、TMT-A错误数(r=-0.329)、TMT-B反应时(r=-0.214)、TMT-B错误数(r=-0.474)呈负相关(P<0.05)。分层线性回归分析显示,ADHD儿童的TGMD-3得分仅对抑制控制和认知灵活性的测试结果具有预测作用(P<0.05),解释率分别为8.7%和22.5%。结论ADHD儿童的粗大动作技能和执行功能均存在发育滞后,且两者之间有一定关联,其中,粗大动作技能水平可在一定程度上影响抑制控制和认知灵活性的发展。