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- Affording heading in preschool and club childrenPublication . Mercê, Cristiana; Catela, David; Pereira, M.; Teixeira, G.; Figueiredo, M.; Coelho, R.; Serrão-Arrais, Ana; Brígida, NancyHeading is an identitary skill of European football, that requires a balance between physical safety and acquisition, achievable through balloons with minimal impact and slow approach. This study aimed to investigate whether preschool children (P) (N=44, M=3.91±0.87 years, ♀=24) can perform self-heading using this educational solution and whether they demonstrate a performance similar to boys in football schools (F) (N=14, M=4,57±,65 years). They were asked to perform as many consecutive self-headings as possible with a balloon, in 3 trials, without attempt restrictions. The balloon afforded to head in 3-years-old, without gender differences, reinforcing the importance of equal gender opportunities for practice. A transition is observed from 3 to 4 years, with an increase in frequency and a reduction in the time between headings. At 4 and 5 years old, the F performs better than the P. In both groups, individualized motor competence occurred. The balloon should be used to explore heading in children aged 3, with advantages in P, compared to the limited recruitment capacity found in group F. The age of 3 years may be characterized as the beginning of the sensitive period for the acquisition of heading.
- Fine motricity in finger tapping test with children: variability analysis with lyapunov exponentePublication . Mercê, Cristiana; Catela, David; Brígida, Nancy; Rafael, D.; Olhos, B.; Gonçalves, M.; Branco, Marco A. C.Recent advancements in nonlinear methodologies have allowed deeper analysis of motor control during development. This study aimed to analyse the evolution of the fine motor skills in children aged 6 to 9 years old through the Lypaunov Exponent (LyE). It was asked to 60 children (M=8,141±1,064 years) to perform the finger taping test, 6 trials in each hand, starting with their preferred one. An inertial sensor was attached to the index finger to collect three-dimensional angular velocity. The LyE values were calculated per child, hand, and movement axis. The results highlighted a notable distinction between the 6- and 7-year-old and the 8- and 9-year-old, aligned with the different phases of motor development. The older ones presented higher variability, which can reflect their greater proficiency in this fine motor task, due to their extensive practice at school context. LyE analysis seems to be sensitive to changes that occur during different phases of motor development.
- Recorrence Quantification Analysis during the finger tapping test in children of the primary schoolPublication . Branco, Marco A. C.; Catela, David; Brígida, Nancy; Rafael, Diana; Oliveira, Joana; Olhos, Beatriz; Gonçalves, Mariana; Mercê, CristianaThe Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA), applied to fine motor skills in children, may be used to observe the behavior of the state of the child, which allows to study and understand the process that he/she is going through. This study aims to analyze the evolution of the fine motor skills between 6 and 9 years old. An inertial sensor was used to collect 3D data during FTT from 60 primary school children and was calculated Recurrence (REC) and Determinism (DET) of the collected time series. Results shows a decrease of REC and DET along ages and higher values in non-preferred hand. RQA shows great sensibility to evaluate fine motor skills and its visible an onset of differentiation between hands through these ages.
- Learning to cycle: is velocity a control parameter for children’s cycle patterns on the balance bike?Publication . Mercê, Cristiana; Cordovil, R.; Catela, David; Galdino, Flávia; Bernardino, Mafalda; Altenburg, Mirjam; António, Gonçalo; Brígida, Nancy; Branco, Marco A. C.The balance bike (BB) has been pointed out as being the most efficient learning bicycle due to its inherent stimulation of balance. However, the process of acquiring the control of balance on the BB has not been explored. This study aimed to: (i) categorize the cycle patterns of children on the BB, (ii) compare the cycle patterns in different stages of learning (before and after six sessions of a BB practice program), and (iii) verify whether velocity is a control parameter leading to transitions between different cycle patterns on a BB. The data were collected during the Learning to Cycle program from 12 children aged 6.06 ± 1.25 years. The velocity was measured using an inertial sensor. Seven different movement patterns were captured and categorized through video analysis. After practice, there was an increase in the mean number of different patterns and in the global mean and maximum velocity. These were interpreted as an improvement of the motor competence in the use of the BB. The results obtained support the hypothesis that velocity is a control parameter which leads to the emergence of diverse patterns of behavior. As the speed increased, the amount of foot contact with the ground became less frequent and the locomotor modes that imply that longer flight phases began to emerge.
- Variability of gross and fine motor control in different tasks in fibromyalgia patientsPublication . Brígida, Nancy; Catela, David; Mercê, Cristiana; Branco, Marco A. C.Fibromyalgia (FM) is normally defined as a widespread pain syndrome or disease that presents disturbances in gross and fine motor control. As a gross motor control skill, gait requires coordination, balance, and muscle strength, and it could be an essential factor for FM patients to perform daily activities. Measuring the spatial and temporal gait parameters or gait variability has been used to assess motor pathologies and identify gait disorders. The Lyapunov exponent is a non-linear measure of variability, which quantifies the ability that the system has to attenuate small perturbances, indicating thatthere might be a relationship between balance and spati-otemporal gait parameters. This technique has already been used for gait analysis and could be used in fine and gross daily tasks, such as the finger tapping test (FTT) or the sit-and-stand test. Inertial Measurement Units have also been used to analyze gross motor control, namely in gait variability. So, the aim of this study is to analyze and compare the variability of gross and fine motor movements between patients with FM and a control group. The sample included 20 female participants, 10 with FM and 10 without (46.150 ± 12.835 years old). To analyze gross motricity, participants were asked to perform the gait task for two minutes and the 30-second chair sit-and-stand test; and to analyze fine motor control, they were asked to perform six trials of FTT test with both hands. To collect the data, an inertial sensor (IMU) was used. FM patients showed a more irregular pattern of linear acceleration peaks than controls in both tasks. Lyapunov values in FM patients show greater instability and variability in the anteroposterior and vertical movements for gait analysis and present significantly higher variability in the anteroposterior movements when performing the sit and stand task and the finger tapping test.
- Predictability and Complexity of Fine and Gross Motor Skills in Fibromyalgia Patients: A Pilot StudyPublication . Brígida, Nancy; Catela, David; Mercê, Cristiana; Branco, Marco A. C.Background: Fine and gross motor tasks are usually used to evaluate behavioral dysfunctions and can be applied to diseases of the central nervous system, such as fibromyalgia (FM). Non-linear measures have allowed for deeper motor control analysis, focusing on the process and on the quality of movement. Therefore, to assess uncertainty, irregularity, and structural richness of a time series, different algorithms of entropy can be computed. The aim of this study was to (i) verify the single-scale and multiscale entropy values in fine and gross motor movements and (ii) to verify whether fine and gross motor tasks are sensitive to characterizing FM patients. Methods: The sample consisted of 20 females (46.2 ± 12.8 years) divided in two groups, an experimental group with 10 FM subjects and a control group with 10 subjects without FM. Inertial sensors were used to collect the finger tapping test (FTT), walking, and sit-and-stand task data. Results: Regarding fine motor skills, patients with FM showed a loss of structural richness (complexity), but they had information processing with greater control in the FTT, probably to simplify task execution and for correction of the movement. On the other hand, people without FM seemed to have more automatic control of the movement when performed with the preferred hand and exhibited similar difficulties to the FM group when performed with the non-preferred hand. Gross motor tasks showed similar entropy values for both groups. Conclusions: The results show that FM patients have movement controls primarily at the level of the motor cortex, whereas people without FM perform movement at the medullary level, especially in fine motor tasks, indicating that the FTT is sensitive to the presence of FM, especially when performed with the preferred hand.
- The systematization of surf initiation teaching: a methodology proposalPublication . Teotónio, Telmo; Mercê, Cristiana; Brígida, Nancy; Catela, David; Branco, Marco A. C.The International Surfing Association (ISA) defines surfing as all wave riding activities on any type of waves and all flat water activities using wave riding equipment. As there are several wave riding sports, this work addresses the teaching methodology of those sports in which we paddle and move in the sea lying down on our surfboard and surf the waves standing up, as happens in shortboarding or longboarding. As a relatively recent sport, surfing still lacks a consensual teaching methodology, motivated above all by the reduced amount of existing research that supports the systematization of the approach to techniques and that supports all coaches’ decisions during the teaching process. Following this line of reasoning, this study proposes a systematization of a progressive organization to the approach to surfing initiation. The methodology of this work involved the identification of all the techniques to be mastered until the end of the beginner level and their organization into different teaching phases, each phase characterized by different objectives, adaptations, and techniques. Three major phases have been identified: Adaptation Phase, White Waves Phase, and Green Waves Phase. These phases are further divided into sub-phases that in some cases are repeated but in different environments. Its operationalization begins with the first phase of differentiated adaptation to the environment and equipment, passing through the pedagogical approach of surfing in flat surface (white waters) and ending with the transition to the outside and the complexity of the unbroken waves. With this proposal, we intend to present the methodology of organization of the contents that best adapts to the majority of practitioners. Knowing that each coach has his way of working, this work presents a model that is flexible and seeks to emphasize the discussion and deeper investigation of the various tasks inherent to the practice of surfing.
- Propiciação de autocabeceamento em praticantes e não praticantes de futebol rapazes de 4 e 5 anos de idade: estudo exploratórioPublication . Pereira, Miguel; Teixeira, Gonçalo; Figueiredo, Maria; Coelho, Rodolfo; Catela, David; Brígida, Nancy; Serrão-Arrais, Ana; Mercê, CristianaIntrodução: A incidência e a gravidade das lesões na cabeça no futebol infantil podem ser reduzidas diminuindo a massa da bola. O cabeceamento é uma habilidade motora identitária e importante no Futebol. Precisamos de conciliar a segurança de um corpo ainda em formação com a necessidade de propiciar a aquisição desta habilidade. Considerando o modelo dos constrangimentos colocamos a hipótese de que utilizando o balão podemos controlar o impacto na cabeça e pescoço e, simultaneamente, propiciar a exploração do autocabeceamento. Objetivos: Investigar se: i) crianças de 4 e 5 anos conseguem realizar autocabeceamentos repetidos com o balão, ii) as crianças de escolinhas de futebol (EF) revelam uma prestaçãode autocabeceamento diferenciada em relação às de jardim de infância sem experiência em futebol (JI). Métodos: Foi pedido a 23 rapazes (13 EF, M=4,57±0,51 anos) que executassem o máximo de autocabeceamentos seguidos em 3 ensaios, sem restrições de tempo ou tentativas, até conseguirem fazer pelo menos 1 cabeceamento. Foi recolhido por ensaio o número de tentativas, autocabeceamentos e tempo e foi ainda calculado o tempo por cabeceamento. Resultados e Discussão: Não existem diferenças na prestação entre 4 e 5 anos dentro do mesmo grupo. No grupo JI as correlações com as variáveis dependentes são quase inexistentes, o que indica que estas crianças estarão num período de exploração e aquisição do autocabeceamento. Contrariamente, no grupo EF as crianças fazem mais cabeceamentos e gastam menos tempos por cabeceamento (significativo no 2.º ensaio), sendo as correlações consistentes entre os ensaios. As crianças das EF distinguem-se aproveitando melhor a affordance de cabeceamento, possivelmente pela experiência no contexto de futebol, ou pelo facto de este contexto propiciar a interação com bola. Conclusões: O balão propicia affordance de autocabeceamento independentemente da idade e do contexto, com impacto físico praticamente nulo. A oportunidade de prática nas EF propicia maior proficiência na habilidade de autocabeceamento.
- Variability of gross and fine motor control in different tasks in fibromyalgia patientsPublication . Brígida, Nancy; Catela, David; Mercê, Cristiana; Branco, Marco A. C.Fibromyalgia (FM) is normally defined as a widespread pain syndrome or disease that presents disturbances in gross and fine motor control. As a gross motor control skill, gait requires coordination, balance, and muscle strength, and it could be an essential factor for FM patients to perform daily activities. Measuring the spatial and temporal gait parameters or gait variability has been used to assess motor pathologies and identify gait disorders. The Lyapunov exponent is a non-linear measure of variability, which quantifies the ability that the system has to attenuate small perturbances, indicating that there might be a relationship between balance and spati-otemporal gait parameters. This technique has already been used for gait analysis and could be used in fine and gross daily tasks, such as the finger tapping test (FTT) or the sit-and-stand test. Inertial Measurement Units have also been used to analyze gross motor control, namely in gait variability. So, the aim of this study is to analyze and compare the variability of gross and fine motor movements between patients with FM and a control group. The sample included 20 female participants, 10 with FM and 10 without (46.150 ± 12.835 years old). To analyze gross motricity, participants were asked to perform the gait task for two minutes and the 30-second chair sit-and-stand test; and to analyze fine motor control, they were asked to perform six trials of FTT test with both hands. To collect the data, an inertial sensor (IMU) was used. FM patients showed a more irregular pattern of linear acceleration peaks than controls in both tasks. Lyapunov values in FM patients show greater instability and variability in the anteroposterior and vertical movements for gait analysis and present significantly higher variability in the anteroposterior movements when performing the sit and stand task and the finger tapping test.
- Fine motricity in finger tapping test with children: incremental entropy analysisPublication . Brígida, Nancy; Catela, David; Mercê, Cristiana; Olhos, B.; Rafael, D.; Oliveira, J.; Gonçalves, M.; Rodrigues, N.; Branco, Marco A. C.During the development process, the nervous system is constantly changing (1). The application of non-linear measures such as entropy has allowed a deeper analysis of motor control (3). The Finger Tapping Test (FTT) is usually used to assess fine motor skills, and in this study we intend to use this test to analyze entropy levels and assess the development of fine motor control in children. Sixty children (M=8.141±1.064) participated in this study. Participants performed the FTT, 6 trials tapping with the index finger on a surface as fast as possible for ten seconds per trial. The test started with the preferred hand, followed by the non-preferred one. An inertial sensor was used to collect three-dimensional angular velocity. The entropy results indicated a change that occurs between the ages of 7 and 8 years old. It was observed that 6-years-old children, compared to other age groups, had lower entropy values, suggesting that they were more predictable when performing the FTT. The 8-years-old children seemed to have the highest entropy values, which might indicate that these children were less predictable (4). These findings suggest a transition to the third childhood, where significant changes occur in the nervous system during development. Entropy appears to be highly sensitive to these changes.