Perceptual and Motor Skills

Johansen, Henriette; Rusten, Emilie H.; Westerhausen, René

doi: 10.1177/00315125241291266pmid: 39394770

Individuals who vary their preferred hand when performing different types of manual activities, so-called mixed handers (MH), have been frequently reported to outperform individuals with a consistent (right) hand preference (cRH) on tasks assessing declarative-memory functions. For example, in one influential study, this MH advantage extended to incidental learning from presumed “deep” semantic processing of verbal stimuli but not from “shallow” phonemic or structural processing. In the present study, we aimed to replicate this research finding in two separate participant samples. First, in a pre-registered and sample-size planned experiment we confronted 49 participants (23 MH; 26 cRH) with “phonemic” and “semantic” word evaluation tasks (using a within design), followed by a surprise delayed recognition test. In a second experiment, we repeated the same procedure with 65 other participants (31 MH, 34 cRH). A mixed-effect analyses of variance found a significant main effect of Encoding Condition (phonemic vs. semantic tasks) in both experiments (effect size: ηp2 = .81 to .85), indicating the classical level-of processing effect with higher recognition hits and sensitivity (d’) for words that followed semantic versus phonemic encoding. However, the predicted interaction effect of Encoding Condition with Handedness Group was not statistically significant for either sample (all ηp2 < .03), nor was the main effect of Handedness Group. Thus, our findings conflicted with those of the original study in two independent samples. As we had sufficient statistical power to be confident in our failure to detect a genuine group difference, we cannot confirm the previously reported MH over cRH advantage in incidental learning of verbal material. We discuss possible reasons for these contradictory results and the theoretical implications of this discovery.

Hayashi, Shota; Kamo, Tomohiko; Ogihara, Hirofumi; Tani, Yuta; Hoshino, Kazuya; Kobayashi, Kazutaka; Igarashi, Tatsuya; Kimura, Akira

doi: 10.1177/00315125241292094pmid: 39410748

The perception of verticality is formed through the integration of multisensory gravitational information, including somatosensory, visual, and vestibular inputs. Older adults exhibit visual dependency (VD) as they rely more on visual information to compensate for reduced somatosensory and vertical perception. Increased VD is associated with falls, and the dynamic subjective visual vertical (SVV) is used to assess VD. However, the measurement reliability of dynamic SVV and VD using virtual reality (VR), which has garnered considerable attention in recent years, remains unclear. Therefore, our purpose in this study was to assess the test-retest reliability of dynamic SVVs and VDs using a VR method. We evaluated static and dynamic SVV of 40 older adults using a smartphone-based VR system (SVR-SVV). Dynamic SVV consisted of numerous spheres on the background rotating clockwise (CW-SVV) or counterclockwise (CCW-SVV). Each SVV measurement consisted of one set of 10 trials. VD was calculated as the mean value of dynamic SVV minus the mean values of static SVV. A re-test was conducted after one week. Reliability was analyzed using Bland-Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 2, k) for each SVV measure. We observed no systematic bias in any of the SVV values, which were 0.1° (SD = 2.8°), 13.3° (SD = 8.3°), −12.8° (SD = 6.9°), and 15.7° (SD = 8.1°) for static SVV, CW-SVV, CCW-SVV, and VD, respectively. Test-retest reliability was good for static SVV (ICC = .817, p < .001), CW-SVV (ICC = .896, p < .001) and excellent for CCW-SVV (ICC = .914, p < .001), VD (ICC = .937, p < .001). The dynamic SVV and VD measurements using SVR-SVV demonstrated good test-retest reliability. Moreover, the SVR-SVV is more portable than conventional methods, making it highly useful in clinical practice.

Woods, Steven Paul; Matchanova, Anastasia; Thompson Kamar, Jennifer L.; Beltran-Najera, Ilex; Alex, Christina; Medina, Luis D.; Neighbors, Clayton; Podell, Kenneth; Babicz Boston, Michelle A.

doi: 10.1177/00315125241284053pmid: 39288078

Mazzardo, Oldemar; Weis, Bárbara Maria; Sampaio, Adelar Aparecido; de Lima, Dartel Ferrari; de Souza, Dayane Cristina; Furtado, Ovande

doi: 10.1177/00315125241284785pmid: 39298787

High competence in fundamental motor skills (FMS) and adequate physical fitness (PF) levels are a solid foundation for acquiring an active and healthy lifestyle during childhood and adolescence. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to compare gender and age groups and identify correlations between FMS and PF in young elementary school students. We used a structured questionnaire to gather sociodemographic information from parents, and we characterized the children’s economic profile with the Brazil Social Economic Status Criterion. We collected FMS data using the Furtado-Gallagher Children Observational Movement Pattern Assessment System (FG-COMPASS), and we used the Brazil Sports Project Battery Test to measure PF levels. Statistical analyses involved descriptive data and inferential tests to determine group differences in FMS and PF levels. Hierarchical regression helped identify the associations between FMS and PF, as controlled by sociodemographic factors. Participants were 720 students (and parents) of both genders (383 girls, 337 boys; M age = 8.8, SD = 1.52 years) from grades 1 to 5 in an elementary school in a municipality in the western region of the Paraná state in Brazil. The results showed significant differences in children’s motor skills and PF based on gender and age. The hierarchical regression model showed different combinations of flexibility, abdominal resistance, upper limb strength, agility, speed, and lower limb strength, which explained 33.7% of the variability in the global FMS index, 41% of the variability in manipulative skills, and 12.7% of the variability in locomotor skills. In addition, there was a positive association between FMS and PF related to neuromuscular development for both sexes, regardless of age.

Seyhan-Bıyık, Kübra; Delioğlu, Kıvanç; Özal, Cemil; Üneş, Sefa; Tunçdemir, Merve; Kerem-Günel, Mintaze

doi: 10.1177/00315125241287971pmid: 39340534

We investigated the psychometric properties of a Turkish version of the Young Children’s Participation and Environment Measure (YC-PEM-T). Our participants were 367 children (212 children with disabilities and 155 children without disabilities; M age = 40.76 months, SD = 20.33; range 0–71 months) and their parents, who were selected by a convenience sampling method. We translated and cross-culturally adapted the original YC-PEM from English to Turkish (YC-PEM-T). We found the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the YC-PEM-T to be good with a Croanbach’s alpha ranging from .68 to .94, and intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from .69 to .89 after the YC-PEM-T was administered twice to 100 parents within a three week period. In a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) we compared YC-PEM-T scores between children with and without the presence of a disability and found significant differences (p < .05). While we found significant differences between three different age groups, they did not follow consistently. To evaluate discriminant validity, we followed up these ANOVAs with post-hoc analyses when results were statistically significant. Regarding concurrent validity, there were strong to very strong relationships between scores on the participation part of the YC-PEM-T and both the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI; .701 < r < .854, p < .001), and the European Child Environment Questionnaire (ECEQ; - .632 < r < - .690, p < .001). We concluded that the YC-PEM-T is a valid, reliable, and culturally adapted tool for evaluating daily life participation and adaptation to environmental factors in young Turkish children. We can recommend the YC-PEM-T for use in clinical settings and for epidemiological research to assess young children’s participation in activities in the home, preschool and community. We also recommend that future investigators examine other psychometric properties of this scale, including its interpretation and capacity to differentiate varied diagnostic and disability groups.

Trongjitpituk, Ravisara; Homma, Miwako

doi: 10.1177/00315125241293907pmid: 39433046

We investigated sensorimotor synchronization abilities across swimmers of different artistic expertise levels. Elite, novice, and non-artistic female swimmer participants completed finger and foot tapping tasks involving single and polyrhythmic patterns that were intended to simulate the rhythmic coordination required in artistic swimming. Although no significant group differences were found in basic sensorimotor synchronization skills, elite athletes exhibited superior performance on polyrhythmic tasks. This observed superior performance could be partly attributable to a pre-existing predisposition for such motor skills and/or the effects of rigorous training. These findings highlight the critical impact of sport-specific demands on temporal control skills and suggest important implications for training methodologies in artistic swimmers.

Bulut, Numan; Aydın Yağcıoğlu, Güllü; Yardımcı-Lokmanoğlu, Bilge Nur; Alemdaroğlu-Gürbüz, İpek; Yılmaz, Öznur; Karaduman, Ayşe

doi: 10.1177/00315125241286622pmid: 39308035

While trunk control is essential for daily activities and motor function, there is currently sparse information regarding the psychometric properties of the outcome measures used for assessing trunk control in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), characterized by proximal muscle weakness. The Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS) was developed to assess trunk control in children with cerebral palsy. We aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the TCMS for children with DMD. We determined the functional level of 52 children with DMD (median age: 8.83 years) with the Vignos Scale, and we further evaluated them with the Motor Function Measure (MFM), a gold standard for determining the validity of the TCMS. Internal consistency of the Turkish TCMS was excellent with a Cronbach’s alpha of .95. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values for intra-rater reliability were between 0.90–0.96 and for inter-rater reliability were between 0.91–0.95. We reported positive moderate to strong correlations between the TCMS and trunk flexors strength (p < .001, r = 0.77), back extensors strength (p < .001, r = 0.68) and MFM (p < .001, r = 0.85). Thus, we found the Turkish version of TCMS to be a reliable and valid instrument for assessing trunk control of children with DMD in clinical and research settings.

Özden, Fatih; Golcuk, Yalcin; Tümtürk, İsmet; Özkeskin, Mehmet

doi: 10.1177/00315125241284677pmid: 39351643

Recent case reports have emphasized the essential clinical contribution of telerehabilitation in the treatment of facial palsy. However, no randomized controlled trial has yet demonstrated the effects of telerehabilitation-based facial exercise therapy. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of video exercise-based telerehabilitation on motor and non-motor clinical outcomes in adults with facial palsy. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with 40 peripheral facial palsy patients. Those in the experimental group (EG) received four weeks of telerehabilitation-based video exercises and routine care. Those in the control group (CG) received only routine care. All participants were evaluated with the Facial Disability Index (FDI), the Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale (FaCE), Short Form-12 (SF-12), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the House-Brackmann Scale (H-B) and the Telemedicine Satisfaction and Usefulness Questionnaire (TSUQ), both before and after the interventions. Both groups demonstrated a significant improvement in FDI, FaCE, and SF-12 PCS scores (p < .05). In addition, there was a significant improvement only in EG on the SF-12 MCS score (p < .05), and there was a significant gain only in CG on the HADS-Depression score (p < .05). While these results provide a further contribution to our understanding of telerehabilitation benefits in mental health variables related to quality of life for facial palsy patients, we found no EG and CG differences on the physical components of treatment.

Hammami, Ameni; Jouira, Ghada; Sahli, Sonia

doi: 10.1177/00315125241286211pmid: 39305518

Given the prevalence of plantar fasciitis (PF) among middle-aged women, we investigated the immediate impact of custom foot orthoses (CFO) on pain and static and dynamic postural balance, addressing a critical gap in understanding the potential benefits of CFO in managing PF-related pain and postural instability. Nine middle-aged women with PF and obesity were evaluated for pain levels and center of pressure (CoP) values in bipedal, unipedal with a non-affected foot, and unipedal with an affected foot on the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, while they were barefoot, wearing standard insoles (SI), and wearing CFO. We found that CFO significantly and immediately reduced pain (p < .01) improved CoP values (p < .01) in the unipedal stance with the affected foot, and enhanced TUG test scores (p < .001). The results demonstrated a significant (p < .01) improvement in CoParea values and TUG test scores with CFO, compared to SI. These findings underscore the immediate benefits of CFO in alleviating pain and improving postural balance in obese middle-aged women with PF, highlighting their potential as a valuable intervention.

Oz, Muzeyyen; Ulger, Ozlem

doi: 10.1177/00315125241292235pmid: 39405445

Low back pain is a common health problem. In this study, we investigated the effects of yoga, physical therapy (PT), and home exercise (HE) on pain perception, function, stress, and quality of life in chronic low back pain (cLBP). We randomly assigned 54 participants to three distinct treatment groups: (a) a physical therapy group (PT) who received spinal stabilization exercises (SSE) combined with local heat and transcutaneous electrical stimulation; (b) a home exercise group (HE) who received SSE as part of the home program; and (c) a yoga group who received yoga exercises. The primary outcome measures were a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for measuring pain, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to measure function. Secondary outcome measures were the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS), Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), pain sensitivity (L3 and deltoid R/L PPTs), Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), plasma cortisol and DHEA-S levels, Transversus Abdominis (TrA) muscle activation, and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Assessments were conducted before and after a six-week intervention period. All three groups demonstrated improvements in pain on the VAS, function on the ODI, pain sensitivity on the L3 and deltoid R/L PPTs, CSI, anxiety on the STAI, TrA muscle activation, and quality of life on the NHP (p < .05). The PT group exhibited a more pronounced improvement on the ODI score (p < .05) than the other groups. Cortisol levels only decreased in the PT group (p < .05). The exercises did not impact DHEA-S and NHP-S parameters. Thus, all interventions resulted in decreased stress, pain intensity, pain sensitivity, central sensitization, and improved function and quality of life; there was no singularly superior approach between interventions. These findings will aid in tailoring treatment programs for managing cLBP according to individual needs.