Introduction to data collection for performance analysis and their integration in martial arts training. A biomechanical and motor control perspective

[EN] In order to improve the development of functional, physical, technical and tactical skills of martial arts athletes, coaches look for new ways to collect data

Postural Control in Preschool Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder, in Sitting Position During a Functional Task

The developmental coordination disorder is a motor disorder that affects 5 to 6% of children at school-age. The postural control deficit is one of the most prevalent problems affecting 73 to 87% of these children. The present research aims to analyze and compare postural control in probable (p-DCD) and at- risk of developmental coordination disorder children and in typical children in a sitting position during a functional task. p-DCD children were tendentially less recurrent, less periodic, simpler and more regular. These children oscillated more and faster in conditions with visual information; with a visual focus they had more stability and oscillated less and slowler campared to the baseline; without visual information they reduced their oscillations and velocity and become less recurrent, periodic, stable and simpler, possibly freenzing more degrees of freedom in order to respond to absence of external information. p-DCD seem to be more dependent on external stimulus like visual information to auto organize their own balance. The greater the task’s complexity, the lesser and slower their oscillations were but also more recurrent and periodic. Despite oscillating, more and faster in all conditions and being tendentially more recurrent and periodic, in risk children revealed a behaviour pattern similar to typical in both variables. p-DCD, at-risk and typical children reveal the same manner of action without visual information, less and slower oscillations. Most likely, the problem with p-DCD is not in motor control, but on perception-action cycles’ effectivness; and, where stimulation must be focused.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of Aging on the Lower Limb Kinematics in Karate Practitioners: Comparing Athletes and Their Senseis

With the life expectancy increasing, older adult population has gained the attention of many researchers. Aging is known to lead to a general decline in bodily functions, which affect the quality of life. The aim of this study was to analyze how the aging process affects veteran active karate practitioners, in the kinematic and temporal structure of the frontal kick. Nine black belt karate practitioners over 50 years old and 24 black belt karate practitioners, aged between 20 and 30 years old, all male, performed the frontal kick mae-geri. Results showed that knee is the structure that holds most differences between young and veterans, both for linear and for angular variables during the mae-geri performance. Statistical differences were found in linear velocity for the knee; linear acceleration of the knee, hip, and RASIS; maximum angular velocity for knee and hip; maximum angular acceleration for ankle and hip; and in the range of motion of knee. The temporal variables show differences, between groups, in maximum linear velocity, maximum linear acceleration, and maximum angular acceleration. However, no differences were found between groups for the time before contact in the maximum linear and angular acceleration, which allow us to remark both the effects of the aging process and the effect of training. This study corroborates the ability of older people to achieve benefits from sports practice, achieving higher efficiency than the younger adults in task execution, but using different motor control strategies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Athletes and their Sensei’s: did aging affect the lower limb kinematics in karate practitioners

[EN] Aging leads to a general decline in body functions that affects quality of life

Functional motor stimulation in institutionalized elderly with Alzheimer’s disease

O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar o efeito de um programa de estimulação motora funcional em idosos institucionalizados com provável doença de Alzheimer de leve a moderada, através do teste de batidas do dedo (FTT). 60 idosos compuseram três grupos: Envelhecimento Normal (SA) (N = 13); Com Alzheimer Sem Intervenção (CASI) (n = 18); e, Com Alzheimer Com Intervenção (CACI) (n = 29). O FTT foi feito para dedo indicador da mão preferida, num único ensaio de 10 segundos. O programa teve uma duração de 12 sessões, 2 por semana. Do pré para o pós-teste, o CASI baixou sua média, mas o CACI melhorou-a. O CACI preservou sua competência motora nesta tarefa, distanciando-se da regressão do CASI. O número de batimentos nos idosos com Alzheimer foi menor do que em outros estudos, o que torna os resultados da intervenção ainda mais relevantes.The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of a program of functional motor stimulation in institutionalized elderly, with probable mild to moderate Alzheimer disease, through the Finger Tapping Test (FTT). Sixty elderly composed three groups: Normal Aging (NA) (N = 13); With Alzheimer but Without Intervention (WANI) (n = 18); and, With Alzheimer With Intervention (WAWI) (n = 29). FTT was made with index finger of the preferred hand, in a 10 seconds single trial. The program had a duration of 12 sessions, 2 per week. FTT revealed that WAWI preserved their motor competence in this task, distancing themselves from the regression observed in WANI. The number of beats in the elderly with Alzheimer was lower than in other studies, revealing that there are somehow in a more advanced stage of the disease, and by this way, reinforcing the effects of the intervention on WAWI subjects.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Constrangimentos da tarefa e padrão de bipedia em bebé com hipotonia: estudo de caso

Fatores biológicos e ambientais podem influenciar o desenvolvimento motor. O desenvolvimento motor é, assim, um processo plástico, e a variação na sequência, no tempo e na velocidade de desenvolvimento está provavelmente relacionado com uma variedade de fatores biológicos (e.g., genótipo) e do ambiente (e.g., tipo de estimulação). O desenvolvimento motor deve ser visto numa perspetiva dinâmica, decorrente de interações da criança incorporada no seu meio ambiente (Malina & Bouchard, 1991). Desta forma, a capacidade de controlo postural (constrangimentos individuais), a força gravítica que nela atua (constrangimento do envolvimento) e as propriedades do contexto com que interage (constrangimento da tarefa) são fatores que determinam o padrão de comportamento motor da criança (Nazário, 2011).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Karate training effect in balance control in children with developmental coordination disorder

The developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a motor disorder identified and recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which affects 6% of school-age children (Vaivre-Douret, 2014; Vaivre-Douret et al., 2011). DCD children reveal problems in their development of fine and/or global motor coordination, difficulty in the motor control and learning, and in the acquisition of new motor skills (Vaivre-Douret, 2014).These difficulties in motor control and learning are expressed in many ways, such as a delay in achieving motor milestones, clumsiness, poor balance, difficulties in writing and drawing (Chang & Yu, 2010), poor postural control (Geuze, 2005), and difficulties in space and temporal organization (Wilson & McKenzie, 1998). All of that affects the daily life of the children and, consequently, brings more problems and new difficulties such as academic delay or social isolation (Joshi et al., 2015; Vaivre-Douret, 2014) One of the most prevalent problems is the postural control deficit, affecting 73 to 87% of the DCD children (Macnab, Miller, & Polatajko, 2001). An early diagnosis accompanied by an early intervention may help to decrease the negative effects of DCD and provide a better life quality (Smits-Engelsman et al., 2013). The regular practice of martial arts such Karate and Taekwondo improve children motor skills, including postural control and balance abilities (Fong et al., 2014; Truszczyńska, Drzał-Grabiec, Snela, & Rachwal, 2015). These benefits are also present in children with DCD, recent studies revealed an improve in sensory organization and standing balance (Fong, Tsang, & Ng, 2012), and also an increase in isokinetic knee muscle strength at 180º and in static single-leg standing balance in DCD children undergo a 3 months of intensive taekwondo practice (Fong, Chung, Chow, Ma, & Tsang, 2013). Taking into account that one of the most prevalent problems in DCD children is the poor postural control, and that the intensive practice of taekwondo has proved to improve balance. We pretend to verify if regular and continuous karate practice also improve balance in DCD children.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The basic foundations of Capoeira learning from 5 to 10 years of age: implementation and evaluation of a formative project

[EN] Capoeira differs from the vast majority of other duels by the musical accompaniment..

Did aging affect the electromechanical delay in Karate practitioners during Mae-Geri kick performance?

[EN] Electromechanical delay (EMD) is defined as the time interval between the onset..