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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: 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.
- Análise da motricidade fina através do teste de batidas do dedo com crianças dos 6 aos 9 anos de idadePublication . Rafael, D.; Catela, David; Olhos, B.; Oliveira, J.; Gonçalves, M.; Brígida, Nancy; Mercê, Cristiana; Branco, Marco A. C.A motricidade fina pode ser caracterizada como uma componente fundamental para a execução de diversas atividades importantes para a autonomia da criança, no seu dia-a-dia. O teste de batidas do dedo é usualmente utilizado para avaliar a motricidade fina ou destreza manual. Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar o desenvolvimento e maturação da motricidade fina em crianças entre os 6 e os 9 anos. Foi aplicando o teste de batidas do dedo a 60 crianças (M=8,141±1,064), 6 tentativas durante 10 segundos. Os dados foram recolhidos através de um sensor inercial (MEMS) e posteriormente tratados em SPSS. Verificou-se que as crianças de 6 anos parecem já demonstrar uma capacidade de diferenciação entre mão preferida e não-preferida, e que existiu um aumento gradual no número de batidas de ano para ano, podendo significar uma mudança significativa no processo de desenvolvimento e maturação da motricidade fina. A aplicação do FTT em crianças poderá ser útil para avaliar o desenvolvimento e maturação da motricidade fina bem como a preferência manual das crianças.