Perceptual and Motor Skills最新文献

Background: Motor competence (MC) tests typically assess various aspects of movement, often focusing on fundamental motor skills (FMS), either from a product- or process-oriented perspective. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationship between product outcomes and segmental speed in FMS, expanding the methodological options for investigating MC. Study sample: Participants were 50 undergraduate students (25 men and 25 women) aged 21.2 ± 2.0 years. Research Design: performance was assessed using maximum ball speed for throwing and kicking, and jump distance for standing long jump. Data collection: Segmental speed was determined using motion analysis at key moments: ball release for throwing, ball contact for kicking, and take-off for jumping. Results: Significant correlations were found between product and segmental speed across all FMS (r ≥ .70, p < .001), both in general and by sex, despite males displaying superior performance and segmental speeds. Conclusions: These findings highlight that segmental speed reflects differences in MC and can serve as an alternative or complementary approach to product measures. However, the determination coefficients revealed varying degrees of influence from additional factors, suggesting that variable selection should align with the study's focus-whether emphasizing movement processes or performance outcomes. Our results broaden the methodological toolbox for assessing MC and provide a foundation for future research, including the investigation of MC in other populations and the examination of how segmental speed relates to movement patterns.

BackgroundEarly childhood motor interventions are essential for supporting child development, yet evidence is scarce in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the effects of the Brazilian version of the Animal Fun Program on motor performance in children aged 4 to 6 years.MethodIn this non-randomized controlled clinical trial, 100 children were assigned according to school enrollment, without random allocation, to an intervention group (n = 51, 26 girls) or a control group (n = 49, 23 girls). The intervention group participated in the Animal Fun Program for 10 weeks, while the control group followed the regular school curriculum. Motor performance was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Second Edition (MABC-2).ResultsAfter 10 weeks, the intervention group showed significant improvements compared to the control group in manual dexterity (mean difference = -2.20; p < 0.001), aiming and catching (mean difference = -2.45; p < 0.001), and balance (mean difference = -2.53; p < 0.001).ConclusionThe Animal Fun Program is an effective intervention for improving motor performance in Brazilian children aged 4 to 6 years, highlighting its relevance as a scalable, low-cost strategy for promoting motor development in developing countries, where structured movement opportunities in schools remain limited.

Auditory processing deficits are common in children and adults who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). An intuitive yet underexplored hypothesis is that deficits in auditory processing may manifest in auditory sensory behaviours. As a result of irregularities in the domain of auditory processing, deficits in speech and language processing may occur, and studies show that receptive vocabulary deficits are also often present. This study aimed to examine the differences in auditory behaviour and receptive vocabulary between children with lower and higher degrees of severity of autism. The sample included 30 children aged from three years and five months to six years and 11 months. The GARS-3 was used to determine the severity of autism, the Auditory Processing subscale (APS) from the Sensory Profile and the Questionnaire on Auditory Behavior for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (QAB-ASD) (constructed for this study) were used to assess auditory behaviour, and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) was used to assess receptive vocabulary. The obtained results indicate that children with a higher degree of severity of autism are more prone to exhibiting atypical auditory behaviour. At the same time, no differences in receptive vocabulary development were found between groups. The correlation between receptive vocabulary and auditory behaviour measured by the APS was not found, but it was with the score on the QAB-ASD. The results suggest the impact of the severity of autism on the manifestation of auditory behaviour but not on the receptive vocabulary development in children with ASD.

PurposeTo systematically review the reliability, validity, and discriminatory capacity of the Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment (CAMSA).MethodA comprehensive search of the MEDLINE/PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus databases was conducted to identify studies providing data on the reliability, validity, or average and dispersion values of the CAMSA test. The quality of the studies reporting CAMSA reliability and validity was assessed using a checklist based on the sample description, time interval, results, and appropriateness of statistics.ResultsOf the initially forty-two studies located, twenty-two full texts were evaluated, with eight studies ultimately selected. Five investigations provided data on CAMSA reliability, and test-retest reliability was evaluated in three studies. Three studies involving 312 participants were pooled to determine the test-retest reliability of CAMSA-skill and CAMSA-time scores. Results indicated poor reliability for the CAMSA-skill score (ICC: 0.662; 95% CI: 0.29-0.86) and good reliability for the CAMSA-time score (ICC: 0.857; 95% CI: 0.76-0.92). Several studies conducted high-quality reliability analyses. Validity findings from five studies suggested moderate concurrent/convergent associations with other motor competence tests (r = 0.38 to 0.77) and some support for face and structural validity, although the overall quality of these studies was low or very low. The review also highlighted CAMSA's lack of discriminatory power.ConclusionCAMSA shows good reliability for some aspects and moderate concurrent/convergent validity. However, concerns remain about its ability to effectively differentiate between demographic groups like age and sex. Further research is needed to fully establish the psychometric properties, especially its discriminatory power.

Background: Reaction time (RT) and movement time (MT) are key indicators of cognitive-motor processing. However, in interpersonal sports such as kendo, responders sometimes win against leaders who initiate movement first, suggesting complex temporal dynamics underlying reactive performance. Purpose: This study aimed to experimentally demonstrate the phenomenon of a responder winning against a leader who moves first and to investigate the reasons for such victories through MT and RT. Research Design: Two experiments were conducted. In the first, we recreated a situation in which counterattacks typically occur in kendo matches, confirming that responders won in approximately half the trials. Although responders had significantly shorter MTs than leaders, this alone could not explain their victories. The second experiment involved participants reacting to the sudden illumination of a light-emitting diode (LED) to perform a kendo men strike, thus measuring their simple RT. Study Sample: The experiments involved skilled university kendo athletes with over 12 years of experience who trained regularly. Data Collection and/or Analysis: The winner was identified based on high-speed camera recordings, while MT was calculated using both ground reaction force data and video analysis. RT was determined from the ground reaction force data. Results: Responders could shorten their RTs by detecting subtle changes in their opponents' movements early and reacting quickly. Conclusions: In interpersonal contexts, responding to gradual changes in an opponent's actions rather than to sudden stimuli may lead to shorter RTs, potentially contributing to a responder's win.

Background: Postural control and attentional focus are closely interrelated in the regulation of visuomotor performance. The Quiet Eye (QE) period, reflecting optimal attentional control, is known to be influenced by postural stability, yet the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. Purpose: This study examined the effects of balance training on dart-throwing performance, QE duration, and cortical activation to clarify the causal relationship between postural control and attentional regulation. Research Design: A randomized controlled design was implemented, consisting of pre-test, acquisition, retention, and transfer phases. Study Sample: Thirty college students (age: balance training group = 21.2 ± 0.86 years; control group = 21.0 ± 0.96 years) with minimal dart-throwing experience were randomly assigned to either the balance training or control group. Analysis: Performance scores, QE duration (via eye tracking), and EEG alpha power in frontal and temporal regions were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: No group differences were observed at pre-test or during acquisition; however, significant improvements in dart accuracy were found in the balance training group during the retention and transfer tests (p = .001). QE duration significantly increased in the balance training group from pre-test to both retention and transfer (p < .001), while no such change occurred in the control group. EEG results revealed significant group × phase interactions, particularly in the temporal regions (T3, T4, T6), indicating differential modulation of alpha power between groups across learning phases. Conclusions: Balance training enhanced motor performance and attentional control by increasing QE duration and altering cortical activity associated with visuomotor regulation. These findings support a causal pathway in which improved postural stability facilitates attentional efficiency, leading to enhanced motor learning. Integrating balance-based postural training with QE-focused interventions may promote more effective skill acquisition strategies.

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of post-operative telerehabilitation on pain and mobility in patients undergoing lumbar spinal decompression surgery.Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 22 lumbar decompression patients. Individuals in the usual rehabilitation (UR) group continued their treatment individually within a home program, while individuals in the telerehabilitation (TR) group continued their treatment with video exercises. Patients were evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TSK), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), lumbar region flexibility test in flexion-extension and lateral flexion directions, lumbar region endurance test for flexor-extensor muscles, Functional Reach Test (FRT) and Stair Climbing Test (SCT).Results: VAS-rest, VAS-activity, TSK, PCS, and RMDQ scores in the TR and UR improved significantly after the intervention (p < .05). In addition, the improvement score in terms of VAS-rest, VAS-activity, TSK, PCS, and RMDQ scores was significantly higher in the TR (p < .05). Flexibility and endurance scores of individuals in both TR and UR increased significantly in all directions (flexion, extension, lateral flexion right and left) (p < .05). In addition, all of the flexibility and endurance scores of TR increased significantly more (p < .05). Finally, both groups improved their FRT and SCT, while TR showed more gain (p < .05).Conclusion: The result provided the superiority of post-operative physiotherapy via telerehabilitation in patients undergoing lumbar decompression surgery. Neurosurgery clinicians and rehabilitation professionals should consider telerehabilitation in post-operative terms for the patients.

Elite European men's basketball features a wide range of offensive play-types designed to create high-quality scoring opportunities. Understanding the use and effectiveness of these actions is essential for performance analysis and tactical planning. This study explored perceptual-motor patterns in elite basketball through a comparative analysis of offensive play-type usage and scoring efficiency across six major European leagues during the 2022-2023 season. A total of 5,044 possessions from top-ranked teams were analyzed using Synergy Sports data, classifying each action by play-type and measuring effectiveness through points per possession (PPP). Results showed that Spanish teams favored Pick & Roll Ball Handler (P&R BH) and Spot Up actions, French and German teams exhibited higher usage of Isolation and Transition plays, while Greek and Turkish teams leaned toward Cut and Post Up actions. Efficiency metrics revealed that although usage patterns varied, certain play-types such as Cuts and Transition consistently produced higher PPP across leagues. Differences in ε² values suggested medium-to-large effects in usage and efficiency variability between countries. These findings highlight how tactical preferences and contextual league structures shape the perceptual-motor strategies used in elite basketball. The findings reveal which offensive play-types are most efficient and frequently used across leagues, providing valuable insights for tailoring offensive schemes to specific contexts. Coaches can use these results to prioritize play-types that yield higher effectiveness in particular leagues, while scouts may identify players whose experience aligns with specific tactical environments.

The lumbar motor control (LMC) test battery is widely used to assess LMC. Although studies have reported its reliability and discriminative validity, the inter-item relationships and item-specific determinants have been insufficiently characterized, with evidence remaining limited. Clarifying these aspects may enhance the interpretation of test results and support more precise clinical decision-making. Therefore, we aimed to examine the relationships among the items of the LMC test battery and identify the factors associated with each item. In total, 194 participants from a community health event were included in this study. Factors such as age, sex, low back pain, muscle mass, and autonomic balance were measured along with the LMC test battery. Muscle mass was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, and autonomic balance was assessed via heart rate variability. The relationships between LMC test battery items were analyzed using chi-square tests, and the factors influencing each item were identified using logistic regression analysis. Although most LMC test battery items showed positive correlations, the pelvic tilt test showed negative correlations with several other items. Age, sex, autonomic balance, and lower limb muscle mass were identified as significant contributors to specific tests; however, no factor was common to all items. Our results indicate that the total score, specific relationships between test items, and influencing factors of each item should be considered when interpreting the results of the LMC test battery.

Visual search is essential for effective anticipation in dynamic sports environments, yet the impact of task complexity on visual processing across expertise levels remains unclear. This study investigated visual search behavior and anticipatory performance in 25 skilled basketball players and 25 untrained male students using eye-tracking technology during simple (five or fewer visible players) and complex (more than five visible players) basketball video-based tasks. Under simple task conditions, no significant differences were found in reaction time or accuracy between groups. However, in complex tasks, skilled athletes responded significantly faster (M = 1623 ms vs. 2077 ms, p < 0.01), with fewer fixations (M = 5.47 vs. 9.63, p < 0.001) and lower fixation frequency (p < 0.001), indicating more efficient visual strategies. Machine learning analysis using a Random Forest classifier highlighted average fixation duration and fixation frequency as the most important features for group classification. These findings suggest that cognitive and perceptual expertise in athletes becomes more pronounced under high task demands, and that training programs could benefit from emphasizing gaze efficiency, particularly by reducing unnecessary fixations and optimizing fixation timing on key areas.