Perceptual and Motor Skills

Bagheri, Rasool; Pourahmadi, Mohammad Reza; Hedayati, Rozita; Safavi-Farokhi, Ziaeddin; Aminian-far, Atefeh; Tavakoli, Sadegh; Bagheri, Jafar

doi: 10.1177/0031512518782562pmid: 29909738

Abstract This study evaluated the relationships between trait stress, Hoffman reflex, and performance among 36 healthy amateur male athletes. We first obtained a trait stress questionnaire from participants and then assigned them to high- and low-stress groups. We next recorded Hoffman reflex data from the soleus and lateral gastrocnemius muscles and then examined their athletic performance on testing protocols separated by a 72-hour washout period. Performance testing utilized vertical jump height, 20 -m sprint time, and standing stork tests. There were significant correlations between (a) the standing stork test, vertical jump height, and trait stress and (b) Hmax/Mmax ratios, threshold intensity (Hth), the intensity of the Hmax, and the intensity of the Hlast. Hth, the intensity of Hmax, and the intensity of Hlast were significantly higher among the low-stress compared with the high-stress participant groups (p < .05), despite participants’ similar training history. We suggest that self-perceived psychological stress affects performance through neural adaptation.

Law, James C. L.; Wong, Thomson W. L.; Chan, Debbie C. L.; Lam, Wing-Kai

doi: 10.1177/0031512518783456pmid: 29929435

Abstract Visual illusions caused by varied orientations of visual patterns may influence the perception of space and size, possibly affecting body stability during locomotion. This study examined the effect of variations in shoe top visual patterns on perception and biomechanical stability while walking and running. Twenty healthy adults performed five walking and running trials along an instrumented walkway when wearing shoes with five different striped patterns (plain, vertical, outward, horizontal, and inward). Before these locomotion trials, participants ranked their perceptions of shoe width. We used synchronized force platform and motion capturing systems to measure ground reaction force, mediolateral center of position displacement, ankle inversion and eversion, ankle excursion, and maximum eversion velocity. We rated stability perception on a 150-mm visual analog scale immediately after each shoe condition. Data analyses indicated that participants perceived plain and horizontal striped shoes as significantly wider than inward and vertical patterned shoes. During walking, participants wearing shoes with plain and horizontal striped patterns demonstrated smaller mediolateral center of position displacement, maximum eversion velocity, and ankle range of motion when compared with walking when wearing outward and vertical striped patterns; when running, we observed a similar effect for maximum eversion velocity. Thus, certain visual patterns on the tops of shoes influence the wearers’ width perception and locomotion in ways that affect ankle stability during walking and running, with implications for risk of injury.

Santos, Manoella O.; Barbosa, Diego G.; Junior, Geraldo J. F.; Silva, Raísa C.; Pelegrini, Andreia; Felden, Érico P. G.

doi: 10.1177/0031512518774993pmid: 29788858

Abstract This study analyzed the associations between physical activity (PA) and motor proficiency (MP) to determine what level of moderate PA might help avoid low MP in 8-10-year-old Brazilian children. We assessed MP of 98 children using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency, Second Edition Short Form (BOT-2 SF), and we assessed PA using the GT3X + accelerometer. We analyzed data using means, standard deviations, frequency distribution, spearman correlation coefficients, Mann–Whitney U test, and the Receiver Operating Characteristics curve. There was a difference between groups of children with adequate or better versus low MP in minutes/day of moderate PA (defined as 2,296–4,011 accelerometer counts/minute; U = 666.0, p = .045) such that those with less time engaged in moderate PA had lower MP scores than peers with adequate MP. There was also a positive correlation between moderate PA and the strength and agility MP domain (rs = .226; p = .025). In addition, minutes/day of moderate PA less than or equal to 142.56 minutes showed predictive capacity for low MP (area under the curve = 0.635; p = .027). Thus, objective measures of PA were able to predict low MP in 8-10-year-old Brazilian children, with an approximate guideline of about 2.5 hours per day of moderate PA needed to protect against low MP.

Iguchi, Masaki; Matsubara, Masaki; Kadone, Hideki; Terasawa, Hiroko; Suzuki, Kenji

doi: 10.1177/0031512518777597pmid: 29788860

Abstract This study examined differences in auditory electromyographic biofeedback (AEB) effects between participants who were sighted and blind. Past research makes clear that AEB is effective for people who are blind, particularly because of their reported superiority in auditory processing, but no study has directly compared AEB efficacy between participants who are sighted and blind. A total of 11 participants who were sighted and 10 who were blind performed a motor task requiring 20 nonfatiguing muscle contractions at 20% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) with or without AEB. AEB reduced the error (calculated as the absolute difference of two consecutive contractions) among both participant groups, and the error for the group without biofeedback was greater for the participants who were blind than that for the sighted participants (5.20% ± 2.05% MVC and 3.30% ± 1.26% MVC, respectively; p < .05). This finding was consistent with subjective rating data, also indicating a trend toward greater difficulty for participants who were blind when performing without biofeedback. Moreover, the AEB/no biofeedback condition showed fewer errors for the participants who were blind than for the participants who were sighted during the last part of the task (p = .036), indicating that participants who were blind were better at maintaining the AEB effect. These data suggest that the poor motor performance of participants who were blind was greatly improved with AEB, suggesting important applications of AEB for assistive technologies, adapted sports, and activities of daily living.

Roach, Lindsay ;Keats, Melanie

doi: 10.1177/0031512518773281pmid: 29708043

Fundamental movement skill interventions are important for promoting physical activity, but the optimal intervention model for preschool children remains unclear. We compared two 8-week interventions, a structured skill-station and a planned active play approach, to a free-play control condition on pre- and postintervention fundamental movement skills. We also collected data regarding program attendance and perceived enjoyment. We found a significant interaction effect between intervention type and time. A Tukey honest significant difference analysis supported a positive intervention effect showing a significant difference between both interventions and the free-play control condition. There was a significant between-group difference in group attendance such that mean attendance was higher for both the free-play and planned active play groups relative to the structured skill-based approach. There were no differences in attendance between free-play and planned active play groups, and there were no differences in enjoyment ratings between the two intervention groups. In sum, while both interventions led to improved fundamental movement skills, the active play approach offered several logistical advantages. Although these findings should be replicated, they can guide feasible and sustainable fundamental movement skill programs within day care settings.

Memisevic, Haris ;Djordjevic, Mirjana

doi: 10.1177/0031512518774137pmid: 29726747

Visual-motor integration (VMI) skills, defined as the coordination of fine motor and visual perceptual abilities, are a very good indicator of a child’s overall level of functioning. Research has clearly established that children with intellectual disability (ID) have deficits in VMI skills. This article presents a meta-analytic review of 10 research studies involving 652 children with mild ID for which a VMI skills assessment was also available. We measured the standardized mean difference (Hedges’ g) between scores on VMI tests of these children with mild ID and either typically developing children’s VMI test scores in these studies or normative mean values on VMI tests used by the studies. While mild ID is defined in part by intelligence scores that are two to three standard deviations below those of typically developing children, the standardized mean difference of VMI differences between typically developing children and children with mild ID in this meta-analysis was 1.75 (95% CI [1.11, 2.38]). Thus, the intellectual and adaptive skill deficits of children with mild ID may be greater (perhaps especially due to their abstract and conceptual reasoning deficits) than their relative VMI deficits. We discuss the possible meaning of this relative VMI strength among children with mild ID and suggest that their stronger VMI skills may be a target for intensive academic interventions as a means of attenuating problems in adaptive functioning.

Guedin, Nolwenn ;Fluss, Joel ;Thevenot, Catherine

doi: 10.1177/0031512518779473pmid: 29860919

Both hand and finger sensory perception and motor abilities are essential for the development of skilled gestures and efficient bimanual coordination. While finger dexterity and finger sensory perception can be impaired in children with cerebral palsy (CP), the relationship between these two functions in this population is not clearly established. The common assumption that CP children with better sensory function also demonstrate better motor outcomes has been recently challenged. To study these questions further, we assessed both finger dexterity and finger gnosia, the ability to perceive one’s own fingers by touch, in groups of 11 children with unilateral (i.e., hemiplegic CP) and 11 children with bilateral spastic CP (i.e., diplegic CP) and compared them with typical children. In our sample, children with hemiplegia exhibited finger dexterity deficit in both hands and finger gnosia deficit only in their paretic hand. In contrast, children with diplegia exhibited finger gnosia deficits in both hands and finger dexterity deficit only in their dominant hand. Thus, our results indicated that children with spastic hemiplegia and diplegia present different sensory and motor profiles and suggest that these two subgroups of CP should be considered separately in future experimental and clinical research. We discuss the implications of our results for rehabilitation.

Dias, Marcelo R. C.; Simão, Roberto; Saavedra, Francisco J. F.; Buzzachera, Cosme F.; Fleck, Steven

doi: 10.1177/0031512518774461pmid: 29726740

This study compared training load and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during resistance training (RT) and aerobic training (AT) sessions at self-selected intensity. Participants were 54 recreationally trained subjects assigned to either RT or AT groups. During RT, participants performed three sets of 10 repetitions of each exercise at a self-selected intensity (load). After RT completion, participants performed one repetition maximum (1RM) and 10RM tests. During AT, participants performed a treadmill exercise at a self-selected intensity and duration (velocity and time). After AT completion, participants performed a treadmill maximal exercise test using a ramp protocol. During RT, subjects chose an intensity (43.6%–60.2% 1RM) below typical training recommendations, and RPE increased in successive exercise sets. During AT, participants chose an intensity (83.9% Heart Ratepeak) in line with typical training recommendations, and RPE increased from the first to second quartile of the session (from a mean of 3.9, standard deviation [SD] = 1.7 to a mean of 5.4, SD = 1.7; p < .05) and remained stable thereafter. These recreationally trained participants self-selected lower RT intensities than are typically recommended for strength and hypertrophy increases (>67% 1RM) and AT intensities in line with typically recommended intensity (64%–95% HRmax) for cardiovascular fitness increases. Thus, for recreational trained individuals to perform RT at recommended intensities, specific instruction will be required.

Silva, Júlio C. G. ;Aniceto, Rodrigo R. ;Oliota-Ribeiro, Leandro S. ;Neto, Gabriel R. ;Leandro, Leonardo S. ;Cirilo-Sousa, Maria S.

doi: 10.1177/0031512518776847pmid: 29768966

This study compared the acute effects of resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) on basketball players’ mood states. A total of 11 male basketball players (M age = 19.9, SD = 2.8 years; M height = 180.8, SD = 7.8 cm; M weight = 71.1, SD = 9.1 kg; M body mass index = 22.1, SD = 1.9 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions: (a) low-load resistance exercise with BFR (LLRE + BFR) and high-load resistance exercise (HLRE) without BFR. We measured mood state with the Brunel Mood Scale before and after each session. There was a significant interaction effect such that there was increased fatigue over time with LLRE + BFR (p = .001, Δ% = 169.2). Regarding total mood disorder, there were significant pre and postexercise differences between athletes exposed to both the LLRE + BFR and HLRE conditions (p = .048) and a decharacterization of the iceberg mood profile in the post-training LLRE + BFR condition. LLRE + BFR, compared to HLRE, promoted an acute negative effect on mood state, decharacterization of the iceberg profile, total mood disturbance, and increased participant fatigue, suggesting that this method of strength training should be avoided before sports competitions.

Kons, Rafael L. ;Pupo, Juliano Dal;Ache-Dias, Jonathan ;Detanico, Daniele

doi: 10.1177/0031512518777586pmid: 29788859

This study analyzed the relationship between generic and judo-specific physical test performances and technical–tactical competition performances among 19 female judo athletes. Participant data were gathered in two stages: (a) physical tests—countermovement jump (CMJ), handgrip strength, Special Judo Fitness Test and Judogi Grip Strength Test; and (b) match performances recorded for technical–tactical analysis. Pearson’s linear correlation and multiple linear regression analysis showed no significant correlations between any technical–tactical parameter and judo-specific physical tests. However, the number of attacks during matches was significantly positively correlated with countermovement jump height (CMJJH; r = 0.69, p = .002), peak power output (CMJPPO; r = 0.53, p = .002), and peak velocity (CMJPV; r = 0.62, p = .001). Effective time during matches was significantly correlated with all CMJ parameters (except maximum force; r = 0.65−0.76, p ≤ .01) and with right hand grip strength (r = 0.48, p = .037). Match effectiveness was correlated with CMJPPO (r = −0.67, p = .001), mean power output (CMJMPO; r = −0.54, p = .017), and CMJPV (r = −0.54, p = .004). The explained power of variance was low for all variables at 45-54%. We conclude that judo-specific performance tests do not seem to be related to female judo athletes’ technical–tactical skills in official competition, though athletes with higher lower limb muscle power and higher handgrip strength showed higher time effectiveness during matches.