The influence of a rythmical-motor activity program on the development of fundamental motor skills in pre-school children

The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of a rhythmical-motor education program on the development of fundamental motor skills in pre-school children. Twenty-two female children between the ages of 4 and 6 years were selected to participate in the study. Twelve of them were randomly assigned to the experimental group which received musical-rhythmical activity classes for a period of 8 weeks while the rest of the children (n = 10) formed the control group which simply followed the kindergarten program. After implementation of the 8-week program, both groups were tested on 8 fundamental motor skills (body awareness, moving and stationary balance, body roll, vertical jump, skip, run and kicking) using the Motor Skills Inventory for assessing motor development (Werber & Bruininks, 1988). The results revealed that the rhythmical activity group was classified in more advanced levels of the developmental scale suggested by the MSI in four of the eight skills examined and this superiority was confirmed by the statistical analysis. The findings of the present study suggest that a rhythmical-motor activity program could provide the ideal setting for pre-school children to develop the basic motor skills that are required for their successful future performance in sports skills

The effect of a psychomotor intervention program in children 3–10 years of age: a systematic review

Psychomotor Interventions Program (PIP) is defined as a treatment that uses physical activities to solve problems. This study aims to inform the efficacy of a PIP in typically developing children from 3 to 10 years. This systematic review evaluated twelve studies which met inclusion criteria in terms of participants characteristics, intervention procedures, data collection methods, assessment tools, results and intervention outcomes. Twelve selected studies contained a variety of motor proficiency, motor competence, social competence, self-concept and emotional competence. These studies presented the effect of a PIP in different domains of child development. Children’s motor profile can have a positive effect after the first two months of implementation of PIP, but for other domains in children's personality a longer duration and frequency is proposed. We can conclude that a PIP plays a significant role in child development and it can be a crucial tool in daily kindergartens and nurseries programs. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

The effect of visual and kinesthetic feedback on the performance of a static balance task in rhythmic gymnastics

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of kinesthetic or visual plus kinesthetic feedback in the performance of a complex static balance in rhythmic gymnastics. Thirty-six female P.E. students between the ages of 19-21 years old (M = 20.7), performed a dynamic balance task requiring standing on the right leg while the left leg was extended in the lateral plane forming a 90degrees angle to the body ("balance a la second with passe developpe"). Participants were divided in two practice groups. The first group practiced the skill facing a white wall while the second group practiced the skill facing a mirror. Performance was evaluated by two independent observers under the same sensory conditions: a) just after the practice phase (post-test) and b) one week later (retention test) according to fifteen technical points defined by the Code of Points of the International Federation of Gymnastics. The duration of tip-tow stance, the total and partial technical performance scores were analyzed using a 2(group) x 2 (test) multivariate ANOVA model. When the performance was evaluated just after the practice session (post-test), it was noted than the group practicing the skill in front of the mirror had significantly higher partial and total technical performance scores and stayed longer in the tip-toe stance than the group who practiced the skill using only kinesthetic feedback. However, this superiority of performance by the group using kinesthetic plus visual feedback was not permanent, as this was confirmed by the absence of significant differences between the groups in the retention test one week later. It is concluded that kinesthetic feedback plays the same crucial role as visual plus kinesthetic feedback in complex and difficult sport skills that require high level of total body coordination

Rhythm or music? Contrasting two types of auditory stimuli in the performance of a dancing routine

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether rhythmic beats only or music would be more effective as accompaniment for the motor performance of specific rhythmic-dance steps by 30 female Students of physical education (M age 20.1 yr.), without prior experience in music or dance. They performed a dance routine in synchronization with a Musical phrase of eight rhythmical meters, with the general value of 4/4 each. Each meter involved representative steps of the rhythmical values of 4/4, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16 like rhythmical walking, Small kicks, galloping, chasse, cat leap, and different ways of balancing. Subjects performed these in synchronization to the rhythm played on a tambourine or to music played on an harmonium. All movement performances were registered using two video cameras. Differences between the two groups ("rhythm" and "music") and across the different meters (4/4, 1/8, 1/8, 1/16, 1/4) were analyzed by a mixed between-within Subjects 2 X 3 analysis of variance with repeated measures of "meter." Students who performed with the tambourine showed better synchrony with that external auditory stimulus than students who performed the same routine guided by music played on the harmonium. Also, students showed better synchrony with the external rhythm when performing a whole (4/4 meter) than when performing either the 1/8 or the mixed 1/8-1/16-1/4 meters. These findings suggest that for highly complex artistic movements Such as the ones involved in dance, beginners perform much better when their movements are guided by a rhythmical sequence of single beats than when guided by a musical phrase having identical metrical structure

Body image in female professional and amateur dancers

Body image is considered to be an obscure, mental representation of body shape, size and form which is influenced by a variety of factors that operate over varying time spans. Research has shown that professional female dancers may face preoccupations with their body image and weight. The present study aimed to investigate how body image was affected as a result of women dancers exercising in a professional and amateur level. The subjects were 115 female professional dance students and 85 females enrolled at amateur dance schools aged between 15and 30 years old. The participants completed the 69 items of the Multidimentional Body Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). According to the results, dance status was found to be significantly associated with three out of the ten MBSRQ subscales with professional dancers having higher mean scores on fitness orientation (F=10.095, p0.05) and body areas dissatisfaction (F=16.455, p0,05) and lower mean scores on overweight preoccupation (F=9.83, p0,05). Future research on dancers could: (1) examine both the body image concerns and their relevant eating attitudes; (2) focus on body image concerns that occur as the females get older; (3) compare professional dancers with non-dancers, since this might provide for data at each end of the spectrum

Aquaticity: A discussion of the term and of how it applies to humans

The relationship between humans and water and the effects on aspects related to human performance has never been studied scientifically. The aim of the current systematic review is to attempt to define the term "aquaticity", present the factors that describe it and reveal the form in which it presents itself in today's society, in order to become a distinct scientific field of study. A systematic review of the literature has been conducted using anecdotal reports from the internet and forums as well as scientific articles and books from databases on issues related to aquatic sports.To the best of our knowledge there are no scientific articles dealing with human's aquaticity. In the current systematic review, four factors have been recognized that are closely related to human aquaticity. Those are related to physical condition in the water, to apnea and ability to immerse, to mental health and to parameters related to body composition.According to our findings, "Aquaticity is the capacity of a terrestrial mammalian organism to function and habitualise in the aquatic environment. The level of aquaticity depends on mental and physical characteristics and can be improved by frequent exposure to the water element". The ideal state of aquaticity is achieved through the activation of the diving reflex, when the human body is totally immersed in water. The development of knowledge regarding the aquatic environment leads humans to an improved state of aquaticity. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd

Developing and testing an instrument to assess aquaticity in humans

We developed and validated an aquaticity assessment test (AAT) for the evaluation of human physical adequacy in the water. Forty-six volunteers (25M/21F; 20 ± 8 years) participated and performed 10 easy-to-administer and practical aquatic tasks. Group A was formed by 36 elite athletes (M/F 20/16, 24.7 ± 10yrs) from two sports categories depending on their affinity to the water environment: terrestrial (wrestling, cycling, dancing) and aquatic (swimming, synchronized swimming, free diving) sports. Group B was formed by 10 non-athlete participants (5M/5F, 14.4 ± 1.4yrs) and was assessed by two independent evaluators. Participants in Group A performed the aquatic tasks once to develop the final AAT items and cutoffs. Participants in Group B performed the aquatic tasks twice on different days to assess repeatability. Factor analysis recommended all 10 aquatic tasks to be included in the final AAT, resulting in scores ranging from 9.5 to 49.5. The AAT scores were statistically different between the terrestrial and the aquatic sports’ participants (p  0.05). The AAT appears to be a valid and reliable tool for the evaluation of human physical adequacy in the water. It is an easy and user-friendly test which can be performed in any swimming pool without a need for highly trained staff and specialized equipment, however more research needs to be done in order to be applied in other population group. © 2015 Elsevier Lt

Gender differences in musical aptitude, rhythmic ability and motor performance in preschool children

Most of the preschool curricula involve integrated movement activities that combine music, rhythm and locomotor skills. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether there are any differences between boys and girls at the age of five concerning their musical aptitude, rhythmic ability and performance in gross motor skills. Ninety-five preschool children participated in the study (50 girls and 45 boys). The measures used were the Primary Measures of Music Audiation, the High/ Scope Rhythmic Competence Analysis Test and the Gross Motor Development test 2. The results revealed no significant gender differences in musical aptitude and gross motor skills performance, whereas girls outperformed boys in four of the six movements of rhythmic ability test. Considering that rhythmic competence is strongly inter-related with children's motor coordination, the concluding suggestion for the preschool physical education curriculum is to incorporate specific rhythmic activities (like Orff, Dalcroze and dance) in order to overcome the boys' performance deficiency. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group Ltd

Proposal of analytical records for choreographic compositions in gymnastics for all

Abstract Gymnastics for All (GfA) is a practice found in the wide world of gymnastics and its greatest form of expression is through choreographic compositions (CC) due to historical and pedagogical reasons, among other factors. In addition, in the international arena, gymnastics festivals have become a privileged forum to perform CC as they take place in different contexts of social intervention, such as schools, clubs, associations, NGOs, and universities. In this context, our objective is to provide a tool to register and analyze GfA choreographic compositions by means of analytical record system. Based on bibliographical and documentary research, we propose a set of eight aspects that address general and specific aspects of CC in GfA. We conclude that the proposed tool displays a didactic and very detailed structure that is based on the theoretical prerogatives of the area. Not only it is useful to professionals and practitioners with different profiles, but it also holds the power of being of great value to all those involved in the processes of CC in GfA as a tool for recording data (including historical data), which is a catalyst for processes of reflection and changes (whenever they are required)