8,332 research outputs found

    An investigation into the relationship between the development of rotation of the hip motor control

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    Although the relationship between increased anteversion and abnormal motor control in children with cerebral palsy is well documented there are no published studies that look at the possible links between motor control and femoral anteversion in children without neurological deficits. Children with intoeing gait are reported to be clumsy; but this clumsiness is usually ascribed to the gait angle. The aim of this study, therefore, is to explore the possible relationship between detorsion of the femur during growth and the development of hip posture and movement. Hip internal and external rotation are commonly used as a clinical measure of anteversion of the femur. In this study the range of hip internal and external rotation (as a clinical measure of anteversion) was related to performance of motor tasks requiring control of the posture and movement of the hip. If the degree of femoral anteversion is linked to the development of motor control, the next step would be to investigate the effectiveness of exercise programmes on the process of detorsion of the femur in children with excessive medial femoral torsion

    The Effect of Hippotherapy on Sitting Balance in Children with Cerebral Palsy

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    Hippotherapy programs have grown rapidly since 1969, when the first center opened in the United States. Despite the growing enthusiasm for hippotherapy in North America, research regarding the efficacy of hippotherapy is not well documented. Literature that pertains to the therapeutic benefits of hippotherapy consists primarily of descriptive articles containing subjective reports of riding instructors, riders, parents, and therapists. Hippotherapy is proposed to develop neuromuscular control, facilitate posture, elicit righting and equilibrium reactions, provide vestibular input, and improve psychological wellbeing. While these descriptive articles have identified variables to be empirically studied, few investigators have documented the therapeutic effects of hippotherapy. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a significant improvement in the sitting balance of children with cerebral palsy (CP) after sessions of hippotherapy. Six children participated in a six-week study, undergoing assessment with a repeated measures design. Results indicated that sitting balance was not significantly improved. Further study is needed to establish the effectiveness of hippotherapy

    A cross cultural study of motor development in the Western Cape

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    Despite conflicting evidence regarding advanced motor behaviour in black African infants, very few comparative studies have been published. Reliable developmental norms for local populations are essential for the early identification of developmental disabilities. In this study the sample consisted of 681 black and 741 white infants drawn proportionally from the Child Health Care Clinics in the northern areas of greater Cape Town. Babies were sampled in specified age-intervals between the ages of 16 and 1170 days. Variables studied were sex, birth-ranking, weight-percentile at the time of testing, marital status of the mother, parents' education and occupation, family size and family income. The demographic characteristics of the sample were compared with those of the population as a whole, based upon the 1980 census. The testing instruments were the gross and fine motor-adaptive sections of the Denver Developmental Screening Test, supplemented by another 21 items representing reflex reactions or specific components of movement. These supplementary items were pre-tested for inter- and intra-observer reliability. The percentage of children responding to the different tests at different ages was determined by probit analysis or, where more appropriate, by non-parametric logistic regression. Differences between the black and white South African infants were subjected to further statistical analysis, as was the contribution of the different variables to the attainment age. Comparison of the performance of the South African infants with the Denver norms showed that both black and white babies were in advance of the Denver children on the majority of fine motor items. The black infants were also considerably advanced in gross motor behaviour; the white infants less markedly so. In the very few (3) items in which the Denver children excelled, doubts exist regarding either scoring criteria or cultural suitability. Comparative analysis of the two South African samples identified certain consistent developmental trends. The black infants performed better on basic grasping patterns whereas the white infants were advanced in manipulative skills. The black infants were advanced on gross motor behaviour in the first year but were overtaken by the white group on learned gross motor skills in the second and third year, with the exception of items requiring physical strength. Very little correlation could be shown between motor achievement and socio- economic factors. Differences appear to be largely due to child-handling practices and experiential learning, but ethnic characteristics may well play a role in the advanced early gross motor development of the black infant. Heavier infants also performed better in both groups, indicating nutritional influences. The clinical implications of the findings are discussed and recommendations made for implementation and for further research

    Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

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    Eccentric Resistance Training in Youth: Perspectives for Long-Term Athletic Development

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    The purpose of this narrative review is to discuss the role of eccentric resistance training in youth and how this training modality can be utilized within long-term physical development. Current literature on responses to eccentric exercise in youth has demonstrated that potential concerns, such as fatigue and muscle damage, compared to adults are not supported. Considering the importance of resistance training for youth athletes and the benefits of eccentric training in enhancing strength, power, speed, and resistance to injury, its inclusion throughout youth may be warranted. In this review we provide a brief overview of the physiological responses to exercise in youth with specific reference to the different responses to eccentric resistance training between children, adolescents, and adults. Thereafter, we discuss the importance of ensuring that force absorption qualities are trained throughout youth and how these may be influenced by growth and maturation. In particular, we propose practical methods on how eccentric resistance training methods can be implemented in youth via the inclusion of efficient landing mechanics, eccentric hamstrings strengthening and flywheel inertia training. This article proposes that the use of eccentric resistance training in youth should be considered a necessity to help develop both physical qualities that underpin sporting performance, as well as reducing injury risk. However, as with any other training modality implemented within youth, careful consideration should be given in accordance with an individual's maturity status, training history and technical competency as well as being underpinned by current long-term physical development guidelines

    YALJOD Full Issue 4.1

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    The Young African Leaders Journal of Development (YALJOD) is a biennial journal and an official publication of the Young African Leaders Forum (YALF). It was established in 2015 to host scholarly analysis and competing viewpoints about the development of Africa; and it’s multidisciplinary approach makes it more formidable. YALJOD accepts papers from varied disciplinary areas — including Social Sciences, Physical Sciences and Humanities — that show direct relevance to the development of Africa. It publishes researches understood as the social, economic, political, cultural and technological processes of change in Africa. The intended audience of the journal remains the entire African people. Howbeit, for effectiveness, special emphasis is given to African leadership operators, development academics, researchers and youths — who appear to be the next African leaders
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