Search results

1

Influence of Long-Lasting Balancing on Unstable Surface on Changes in Balance

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Tchórzewski D., Jaworski J., Bujas P.

Human Movement

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2010

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vol. 11

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issue 2

144-152

EN

Purpose. The goal of this thesis is to test the qualification of changes in balance as the effect of long-lasting balancing on a movable platform alternately in sagittal and frontal planes. It was expected to find answers to the following problems: 1. Does the effort caused by a 10-minute balancing in the given planes and in the given pattern have an influence on dynamic balance parameters? 2. Till which moment are the subjects able to improve their balancing skills in the given planes? 3. Do the possible changes progress in the same way in both planes considered? Basic procedures. 28 men aged between 24.3 and 33.8 years took part in this test. Average age of the subjects was 25.2 years. The tests were made on EasyTech Balance Platform. Tests consisted of a trial of balancing in a standing position with feet placed parallel on the platform. The subjects' task was to operate the platform through the right feet pressure to make the same sinusoid line as the pattern was. A ten-minute trial was made alternately in the sagittal and frontal planes. Individual dynamic parameters were recorded each minute of the test. Main findings. Significant improvement was noted in the first three minutes of the test. Between the 4th and 7th minutes parameters were relatively stable. The best results were recorded in the 8th minute of the test and this level was kept till the end of the trial. The character of the observed changes was analogous in the case of both planes. Conclusions. There was a statistically significant improvement in the dynamic body's stability noted in both planes in the test. Best results were recorded in the 8th minute of the test. The test used in the trial was long enough to establish the borderline between motor learning and the beginning of tiredness. The higher level of stability in the sagittal plane was affirmed in all successive minutes of the trials made.

2

Learning by Analogies: Implications for Performance and Attentional Processes Under Pressure

100%

Schücker L., Ebbing L., Hagemann N.

Human Movement

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2010

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vol. 11

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issue 2

191-199

EN

Purpose. According to the self-focus theory of choking under pressure, conscious control of automated processes leads to a disruption of movement execution and deterioration in performance. In this study we examined whether analogy learning is a method to prevent choking under pressure. Basic procedures. Novice golfers learned the full swing over a period of six weeks either in a traditional way with technical instructions or with analogy instructions. Their performances were assessed in an indoor golf simulator. Attentional processes were measured using a dual task paradigm. Different kinds of learning instructions are linked to measures of skill-focused attention under low and high pressure conditions. Main findings. Performance scores in the dual task show that pressure leads to an increase in skill-focused attention of the technical learning group, compared to a decrease in skill-focused attention of the analogy learning group. Conclusions. Attentional processes under pressure are related to the method (analogy vs. technical instructions) implemented in the learning phase.

3

Effect of difficulty manipulation strategies on acquisition, retention and associated perceptions in fine motor coordination task learning in young school boys

100%

Elghoul Y., Bahri F., Chaari N., Ezeddinie S., Masmoudi L., Souissi N., Frikha M.

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EN

This study investigated whether difficulty manipulation strategies affect learning in the fine motor coordination task, perceived competence (PC) and perceived difficulty (PD). Thirty -nine novices’ right - handed boys (age 11.3 ± 0.4 years; stature 147 ± 8.94 cm ; body mass 40.57 ± 0.07 kg; mean ± SD), volunteers, were assigned to either control group (CTG: no difficulty manipulation)and two experimental groups: group 1 (EG1: one -dimension difficulty manipulation) and group 2 (EG2: two- dimensions difficulty manipu lation). All protocol sessions were conducted at the same time -of-day, in which, there were three periods: familiarization, acquisition and retention phases. Moreover, two stress- conditions of darts throw were investigated (i.e.: free condition (FC) and ti me pressure condition (TPC)). Results showed significant effect between - groups (p = 0.01, η2 = 0.215) based on difficulty strategies manipulation. Analysis showed an improvement in accuracy values in retention tests for only EG1and a significant l ower coefficient of variation (p = 0.41, η2 = 0.154) compared to the CTG and EG2. Errors decrease over time for CTG in FC (p = 0.041, η2= 0.203) but not in TPC, while no significant differences in errors for EG1 and EG2 (p = 0.19, η2 = 0.911) in the two st ress -conditions. Moreover, PD was significantly different between all test - phases (p = 0.041, η2 = 0.234) for EG1 only. The one -dimension learning strategy improves retention in accuracy performances, whereas, both strategies, do not affect errors in both FC and TPC . Therefore, teachers in physical education are not encouraged to combine difficulties in learning process of a novel fine motor coordination task.

4

Analogy vs. Technical Learning in a Golf Putting Task: An Analysis of Performance Outcomes and Attentional Processes Under Pressure

100%

Schücker L., Hagemann N., Strauss B.

Human Movement

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2013

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vol. 14

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issue 2

175-184

EN

Purpose It is assumed that analogy learning helps prevent individuals from choking under pressure by limiting the conscious control of movements when performing in high-pressure situations. The aim of the study was to extend the application of analogy learning to golf putting and include an assessment on the proposed mechanisms of analogy learning and performance under pressure. Methods. Golf novices learned a putting task either by technical instructions or with analogy. After the learning phase, the participants were tested under low- and high-pressure conditions. Attentional focus was measured using a dual-task paradigm based on a skill and an externally focused task. Results. Both groups showed an increase in putting accuracy under pressure while performance in both dual-tasks decreased under pressure. Despite a difference in verbal knowledge, no group differences were found in putting or dual-task performance. Conclusions. The results suggest that it does not matter if the skill is learned technically or by analogy with regard to performance under pressure

5

Benefits of Sleep in Motor Learning – Prospects and Limitations

100%

Blischke K., Erlacher D., Kresin H., Brueckner S., Malangré A.

Journal of Human Kinetics

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2008

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vol. 20

23-35

EN

During the recent years it has been shown repeatedly that, after initial learning, elapse of time preserves, but sleep enhances performance in procedural motor skills. To date, however, the majority of experimental studies in this area employed some sort of a sequential finger tapping skill as a criterion task. Thus it is unclear yet, if any (and which) other types of motor skills do indeed benefit from sleep. In order to answer this question, and to provide theoretical statements about the memory system regarding benefits of sleep in motor learning, we carried out a series of studies following a "multi-task research strategy". Although we successfully replicated sleep-related improvements in the production of newly acquired sequential finger skills (FT-Task) under different learning conditions (i.e., guided or unguided), we did not find any such effect of sleep in discrete motor tasks requiring precise production of (a) a specific relative timing pattern (Diamond Tapping-Task), or (b) a sub-maximal force impulse (vertical Counter Movement Jump), and we also failed to find any specifically sleep-related effects on subsequent performance in (c) a continuous visuo-motor pursuit-tracking task. These results are considered in relation to other work, and the respective theoretical implications are discussed.

6

Practice effects on fast and accurate spatially constrained movements

100%

Pereira C. F., Marques I., Okazaki V. H. A.

Human Movement

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2014

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vol. 15

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issue 1

4-11

EN

Purpose. The effects of practice were analyzed in the control of fast and accurate spatially constrained movements. Methods. Twenty men (20-26 years old) evenly divided into an experimental and control group were analyzed in three time periods: pre-test, post-test, and retention. Discrete Aiming Task ver. 2.0 software simulated Fitts’ task (1954) and provided kinematic analysis of mouse cursor movements (displacement, velocity, and acceleration). The task consisted of using the mouse to click on two parallel targets as fast and accurately as possible. Four target widths (W = 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, and 2.5 inches) and three distances between the targets (D = 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 inches) were used to provide indexes of difficulty (ID) from 1 to 6 bits. The experimental group performed 108 practice trials (three blocks of 36 trials on different days) while the control group had no practice. Results. Movement time (MT) decreased in the experimental group largely due in part to a reduction of time used for feedback. It is suggested that the improvement in performance as a function of practice occurred through the interdependence of programming and the feedback process. As the task was practiced, there was decreased need for feedback due to better pre-programming of the primary submovement and the improved use of sensorial feedback information. This strategy and a lengthened deceleration phase can help explain the paradigm of fast and accurate movement as a result of practice. Conclusions. Despite the improved performance changes as a consequence of practice, Fitts’ Law proved to be robust enough to predict MT as a function of ID.

7

Press Up Exercises as an Alternative to Conventional Therapy of Radicular Symptoms in Patients with Low Back Pain

88%

Vagner J., Palascákova Springrova I., Baranova E., Tomková Š., Firytova R., Bendikova E.

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vol. 42

17-29

EN

The study examines whether clinical and objective improvement can be achieved in patients with LBP (low back pain) with radicular symptoms using a 6-week exercise program based on press up exercises created from ADL (activities of daily living) movement patterns. This original study involved 10 men with acute L5 / S1 disc hernia. Before starting the exercise program, patients determined the intensity of pain VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), the intensity of paraesthesias (NSIP: numerical scale of paraesthesia intensity) and the location of paraesthesias. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to objectify the extent of the disc hernia, spinal cord compression, and pressure acting on the dural sac. Patients completed -week exercise program consisting only of press up ADL movement patterns in a closed kinematic chain. At the end of the exercise program, patients determined the outcome values of clinical symptoms and underwent control MRI within 2 weeks at the latest. At the end of the study all patients showed a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity (p = 0.005), paraesthesia (p = 0.006). The pressure on the dural sac was reduced in all patients. One of the patients had a partial reduction of intervertebral disc hernia by 35.7 %. None of the patients had a change in spinal root compression. Conventional therapy should focus on influencing clinical symptoms that appear to correlate with dural sac compression. We dare to argue that reduction of hernia disc is not a sign of primary recovery in LBP patients with acute phase radicular symptoms.

8

Distribution of Practice Effects on Older and Younger Adults’ Motor-Skill Learning Ability

88%

Leite C. M. F., Ugrinowitsch H., Carvalho M. F. S. P., Benda R. N.

Human Movement

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2013

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vol. 14

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issue 1

20-26

EN

Purpose. In this study, we investigated the effects of the distribution of practice (distributed vs. massed) on the learning of a coincident timing task by young and older adults. Methods. Sixteen young adults and sixteen older adults were subdivided into distributed and massed practice groups. The participants completed a coincident timing task that consisted in touching five sensors in sequence under a time constraint in two learning phases: acquisition and transfer. Results. There were no performance differences between the groups in the acquisition phase. However, older adults in the massed practice group featured the poorest performance in the transfer test. No differences were found among the other groups. Conclusions. Older adults are more receptive to distribution practice as massed practice was found to lead to poorer learning. Comparisons of learning effectiveness between young and older adults are dependent on the adopted intra-session intervals. In addition, the conflicting results on distribution of practice may be related to subject-task interactions.

9

Sleep-Related Offline Learning in a Complex Arm Movement Sequence

88%

Malangré A., Leinen P., Blischke K.

Journal of Human Kinetics

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2014

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vol. 40

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issue 1

7-20

EN

Sleep is known to elicit off-line improvements of newly learned procedural skills, a phenomenon attributed to enhancement consolidation of an internal skill representation. In the motor domain, enhancement consolidation has been reported almost exclusively for sequential-finger-tapping skills. The aim of the present study was to extend the notion of sleep-related enhancement consolidation to tasks closer to everyday motor skills. This was achieved by employing a sequence of unrestrained reaching-movements with the non-dominant arm. Fifteen reaching-movements had to be executed as fast as possible, following a spatial pattern in the horizontal plane. Terminating each movement, a peg had to be fitted into a hole on an electronic pegboard. Two experimental groups received initial training, one in the evening, the other one in the morning. Subsequently, performance in both groups was retested twelve, and again 24 hrs later. Thus, during retention each individual experienced a night of sleep, either followed or preceded by a wake interval. Performance error remained low throughout training and retests. Yet mean total execution time, indicative of task execution-speed, significantly decreased for all individuals throughout initial training (no group differences), and significantly decreased again in either group following nocturnal sleep, but not following wake. This finding does not appear to result merely from additional practice afforded at the time of retests, because only after a night of sleep individuals of both experimental groups also revealed performance improvement beyond that estimated from their initial training performance.

10

Effects of Internal and External Attentional Foci on Motor Skill Learning: Testing the Automation Hypothesis

75%

Oliveira T. A. C., Denardi R. A., Tani G., Corrêa U. C.

Human Movement

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2013

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vol. 14

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issue 3

194-199

EN

Purpose. This study investigated if (1) the beneficial effects of an external focus of attention on learning a motor skill were influenced by an internal focus of attention provided at initial instruction (2) or by an internal focus of attention at the early stage of the acquisition phase and (3) their relation to the automation hypothesis. Methods. Three separate experiments were performed with 168 college students on the acquisition, transfer, and retention of a golf-putting task. Results. In conjunction, the results of the three experiments pointed to the positive effects of an internal attention of focus instructions followed by an external attentional focus on motor learning. Conclusions. These results support the development of an alternative hypothesis on the effects of attentional focus on motor skill acquisition.

11

Analiza związku zaburzeń regulacji procesów sensorycznych (RDSP) z rozwojem funkcji chodu oraz procesami motorycznego uczenia się u dzieci i młodzieży z mózgowym porażeniem dziecięcym

63%

Bagrowski B., Kraśny J., Jóźwiak M.

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vol. 24(2)

107-119

EN

Background. Cerebral palsy (CP) is associated with non–progressive damage to the upper motor neuron, which manifests itself in a variety of symptoms, in particular motor and functional deficits. In the development of a child, especially with CP, attention should be paid to regulation disorders of sensory processing (RDSP). They result from incorrect processing of information by the nervous system and, therefore, may affect cognitive processes, the ability to move and the process of motor learning. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between disturbances in the regulation of sensory processes and the development of gait function and motor learning in a group of children and adolescents with MPD. Material and methods. The study involved 50 patients with CP, whose functional and kinematic parameters of locomotion were measured and whose sensory profile was defined on the basis of a standardized questionnaire of sensorimotor disorders completed by their parents or legal guardians. Then, a test of correlation between individual variables was performed. Results. Disturbances in sensory integration processes were shown to be associated with less favorable functional and kinematic values and with lower efficiency of motor learning. This was especially true of proprioception and balance as well as coordination, which depends on cooperation between the sensory organs. Conclusions. 1. These results correlate with the outcomes of other studies on the relationship between sensory impairment and motor skills. 2. The study may contribute to the identification of more predictors of the effectiveness of rehabilitation of patients with CP, which can be used in the longer term to forecast the effects of therapy and the development of personalized medicine, as manifested in comprehensive therapeutic approaches (e.g. supplemented with sensory integration therapy).

PL

Wstęp. Mózgowe porażenie dziecięce (MPD) wiąże się z niepostępującym uszkodzeniem górnego neuronu ruchowego, co przejawia się różnorodnymi objawami, w szczególności deficytami motorycznymi i funkcjonalnymi. W rozwoju dziecka, szczególnie z MPD, należy zwracać uwagę na zaburzenia regulacji procesów sensorycznych (RDSP). Wynikają one z nieprawidłowości w przetwarzaniu informacji przez układ nerwowy, dlatego też mogą mieć wpływ na procesy poznawcze, zdolność poruszania się, czy proces motorycznego uczenia się. Celem pracy była analiza związku zaburzeń regulacji procesów sensorycznych z rozwojem funkcji chodu oraz motorycznym uczeniem się w grupie dzieci i młodzieży z MPD. Materiał i metody. W prezentowanym badaniu wzięło udział 50 chorych z MPD, u których dokonano pomiaru parametrów funkcjonalnych i kinematycznych lokomocji, a także u których zdefiniowano profil sensoryczny na podstawie standaryzowanego kwestionariusza zaburzeń sensomotorycznych wypełnianego przez rodziców lub prawnych opiekunów. Następnie dokonano testu korelacji pomiędzy poszczególnymi zmiennymi. Wyniki. Wykazano, że zaburzenia procesów integracji sensorycznej wiążą się z mniej korzystnymi wartościami funkcjonalnymi i kinematycznymi oraz z mniejszą efektywnością motorycznego uczenia się. Dotyczy to szczególnie propriocepcji i równowagi oraz koordynacji – zdolności budowanej na współpracy narządów sensorycznych. Wnioski. 1. Wyniki korelują z innymi badaniami dotyczącymi związku zaburzeń sensorycznych ze zdolnościami motorycznymi. 2. Badanie może posłużyć jako element identyfikacji kolejnych predyktorów efektywności rehabilitacji chorych z MPD, co w dalszej perspektywie może posłużyć do prognozowania efektów terapii oraz rozwoju medycyny spersonalizowanej przejawiającej się m.in. w kompleksowej terapii (np. uzupełnionej o terapię integracji sensorycznej).

12

The application of virtual reality in neuro-rehabilitation: motor re-learning supported by innovative technologies

63%

Kiper P., Szczudlik A., Mirek E., Nowobilski R., Opara J., Agostini M., Tonin P., Turolla A.

Medical Rehabilitation

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2013

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vol. 17(4)

29-36

PL

Upośledzenie funkcji ruchowych po udarze mózgu u wielu chorych ma negatywny wpływ na samodzielność i czynności życia codziennego oraz wymaga długotrwałej rehabilitacji. Liczne badania wykazały, że uczenie się nowych umiejętności motorycznych pobudza neuroplastyczność mózgu i umożliwia poprawę funkcjonalną. Innowacyjne technologie wykorzystywane w rehabilitacji wzmacniają możliwości treningu ruchowego poprzez dostarczanie informacji zwrotnej. Łączenie tradycyjnej rehabilitacji ruchowej z innowacyjną technologią poprzez wzmocniony trening umożliwia przyspieszenie ponownego uczenia się ruchu i nabywania umiejętności funkcjonalnych. Otoczenie wzbogacone przez informacje zwrotną angażuje wiele zmysłów i stymuluje pacjenta do aktywnej pracy. Ćwiczenia w otoczeniu wirtualnym maksymalizują efekt uczenia się ruchu poprzez powtarzające się i zróżnicowane zadania oraz dostarczenie informacji zwrotnej w odniesieniu do działania i jego efektu. Innowacyjne technologie rehabilitacyjne, zarówno terapia wirtualna, jak i urządzenia - roboty, pozwalają na specyficzne leczenie oparte na treningu z wykorzystaniem wzmocnionego sprzężenia zwrotnego w środowisku wirtualnym (Reinforced Feedback in Virtual Environment – RFVE), zwiększając informacje czuciowe odpowiadające rzeczywistym zadaniom i przedmiotom. Trening ruchowy oparty na RFVE daje także możliwość poszerzenia wiedzy na temat technik wykorzystywanych do poprawy czynności ruchowych niedowładnej kończyny.

EN

The motor function impairment resulting from a stroke injury has a negative impact on autonomy, the activities of daily living thus the individuals affected by a stroke need long-term rehabilitation. Several studies have demonstrated that learning new motor skills is important to induce neuroplasticity and functional recovery. Innovative technologies used in rehabilitation allow one the possibility to enhance training throughout generated feedback. It seems advantageous to combine traditional motor rehabilitation with innovative technology in order to promote motor re-learning and skill re-acquisition by means of enhanced training. An environment enriched by feedback involves multiple sensory modalities and could promote active patient participation. Exercises in a virtual environment contain elements necessary to maximize motor learning, such as repetitive and diffe-rentiated task practice and feedback on the performance and results. The recovery of the limbs motor function in post-stroke subjects is one of the main therapeutic aims for patients and physiotherapist alike. Virtual reality as well as robotic devices allow one to provide specific treatment based on the reinforced feedback in a virtual environment (RFVE), artificially augmenting the sensory information coherent with the real-world objects and events. Motor training based on RFVE is emerging as an effective motor learning based techniques for the treatment of the extremities.

Refine search results

Influence of Long-Lasting Balancing on Unstable Surface on Changes in Balance

Learning by Analogies: Implications for Performance and Attentional Processes Under Pressure

Effect of difficulty manipulation strategies on acquisition, retention and associated perceptions in fine motor coordination task learning in young school boys

Analogy vs. Technical Learning in a Golf Putting Task: An Analysis of Performance Outcomes and Attentional Processes Under Pressure

Benefits of Sleep in Motor Learning – Prospects and Limitations

Practice effects on fast and accurate spatially constrained movements

Press Up Exercises as an Alternative to Conventional Therapy of Radicular Symptoms in Patients with Low Back Pain

Distribution of Practice Effects on Older and Younger Adults’ Motor-Skill Learning Ability

Sleep-Related Offline Learning in a Complex Arm Movement Sequence

Effects of Internal and External Attentional Foci on Motor Skill Learning: Testing the Automation Hypothesis

Analiza związku zaburzeń regulacji procesów sensorycznych (RDSP) z rozwojem funkcji chodu oraz procesami motorycznego uczenia się u dzieci i młodzieży z mózgowym porażeniem dziecięcym

The application of virtual reality in neuro-rehabilitation: motor re-learning supported by innovative technologies