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- Learning to cycle: a cross-cultural and cross-generational comparisonPublication . Cordovil, R.; Mercê, Cristiana; Branco, Marco A. C.; Lopes, Frederico; Catela, David; Hasanen, Elina; Laukkanen, Arto; TORTELLA, Patrizia; Fumagalli, Guido; Sá, Cristina; Jidovtseff, Boris; Zeuwts, Linus; De Meester, An; Bardid, Farid; Fujikawa, Ricardo; Veldman, Sanne LC; Zlatar, Silvija; Estevan, IsaacBackground: Learning to cycle is an important milestone for children, but the popularity of cycling and the environmental factors that promote the development and practice of this foundational movement skill vary among cultures and across time. This present study aimed to investigate if country of residence and the generation in which a person was born influence the age at which people learn to cycle. Methods: Data were collected through an online survey between November 2019 and December 2020. For this study, a total of 9,589 responses were obtained for adults (self-report) and children (parental report) living in 10 countries (Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Finland, Spain, Belgium, United Kingdom, Mexico, Croatia, and the Netherlands). Participants were grouped according to their year of birth with 20-year periods approximately corresponding to 3 generations: 1960–79 (generation X; n = 2,214); 1980–99 (generation Y; n = 3,994); 2000–2019 (generation Z; n = 3,381). Results: A two-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of country, F(9,8628) = 90.17, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.086, and generation, F(2,8628) = 47.21, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.122, on the age at which individuals learn to cycle. Countries with the lowest learning age were the Netherlands, Finland and Belgium and countries with the highest learning age were Brazil and Mexico. Furthermore, the age at which one learns to cycle has decreased across generations. There was also a significant country x generation interaction effect on learning age, F(18,8628) = 2.90, p < 0.001; however, this effect was negligible (η2p = 0.006). Conclusions: These findings support the socio-ecological perspective that learning to cycle is a process affected by both proximal and distal influences, including individual, environment and time.
- Learning to Cycle: Are Physical Activity and Birth Order Related to the Age of Learning How to Ride a Bicycle?Publication . Mercê, Cristiana; Branco, Marco A. C.; Catela, David; Lopes, Frederico; Rodrigues, Luis P.; Cordovil, R.The present article aimed to verify whether the age at which children learn to ride a bicycle is related to their physical activity or birth order. Data were collected from an online structured survey between November 2019 and June 2020. A total of 8614 responses were obtained from 22 countries. The results reveal significant differences in learning age depending on the frequency of physical activity (F(5, 7235) = 35.12, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.24). People who engaged in physical activity less than twice a month learned to cycle later (M = 7.5 ± 5.3 years) than people who engaged in physical activity on a daily basis (M = 5.7 ± 2.2 years) (p < 0.001). There were also significant differences in learning age according to birth order (F(2, 3008) = 7.31, p = 0.00, ηp2 = 0.005). Only children had the highest learning age (M = 5.5 ± 2.4 years), whereas those who were born last had the lowest, (M = 5.1 ± 1.9 years) (p = 0.013). Creating opportunities for children to be engaged in play and physical activity and social modulation through their older siblings seem to be key conditions to encourage children to learn how to ride a bicycle from a young age and to foster their motor development.
- Déficits no comportamento de atividade física em crianças com transtorno do desenvolvimento da coordenação: revisão sistemáticaPublication . Mercê, Cristiana; Cordeiro, Jéssica; Romão, Catarina; Branco, Marco A. C.; Catela, DavidThe Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) affects about 5 to 6% of school-aged children, being one of the most common developmental problems in childhood. A dated review identified that DCD children had lower levels of physical activity than their peers however, they did not investigate the implications of this lower activity in the children's lives. The present systematic review aimed to identify: i) differences in physical activity levels between children with developmental coordination disorder (pDCD) and typical development, ii) the repercussions of these differences, and iii) main instruments used in the measurement of physical activity. A comprehensive search in five databases was performed (Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane), including grey literature. After finding 785 publications, 16 studies were included. This review verified that pDCD children have lower levels of moderate and vigorous physical activity, with possible implications at physical (e.g., higher percentages of fat mass) and psychological (e.g., increased levels of frustration) levels. This review confirms that children with pDCD are less active than children with typical development and have a higher risk of developing cardio-metabolic diseases. Parents, teachers, schools and communities should create motivational environments for youngsters with DCD to engage and maintain physical activity as they move into adulthood.
- Efeito da intervenção com exercício físico em adolescentes com perturbação no desenvolvimento da coordenação (dcd): revisão sistemáticaPublication . Bernardino, Mafalda; Catela, David; Branco, Marco A. C.; Mercê, CristianaA perturbação no desenvolvimento da coordenação (DCD), é uma condição motora que afeta a capacidade de realizar habilidades motoras coordenadas grossas e finas, com impacto negativo significativo no dia a dia. O exercício físico (EF) ajuda a mitigar os efeitos negativos da DCD em crianças, porém não existe sistematização nesta área com a população adolescente. Esta revisão objetivou investigar quais os efeitos do EF em adolescentes com DCD. A pesquisa foi realizada na PubMed, e a avaliação da qualidade através da escala de PEDro. Foram selecionados 5 artigos, que evidenciaram efeitos significativos do EF na competência motora em adolescentes com DCD. O EF deve ser incluído nos hábitos de vida de adolescentes com DCD, preferencialmente através de programas, com uma duração mínima de 13 semanas, orientados por profissionais com qualificação adequada, para melhoria da competência motora e desenvolvimento das habilidades motoras.
- The basic foundations of Capoeira learning from 5 to 10 years of age: implementation and evaluation of a formative projectPublication . Barros, Nelson; Branco, Marco A. C.; Catela, DavidCapoeira differs from the vast majority of other duels by the musical accompaniment, where the rhythm gives the temporal structure to the movement. The practice of Capoeira enables the development of structural elements of human movement, particularly in perception‐action cycles, e.g., music rhythm and specific movements or peripheral vision and attack and defense actions, integrated in cultural and socio‐affective dimensions (Silva & Damiani, 2005). The training in Capoeira follows a traditional course in associations or Capoeira groups where transmission of knowledge is made by the Mestre de Capoeira, each developing an individual philosophy and methodology and based on accumulated practical knowledge. Actually, there is no formal process and specific training of these professionals, and professionals usually have little qualification. The practitioner student passes to teacher condition by subjective criteria (Heine, Carbinatto, & Nunomura, 2009). In order to contribute to a tested contents’ systematization, for the motor learning of the basis of Capoeira, in the 2nd childhood, considered the critical period of development of motor skills and coordinative abilities (Mitra & Mogos, 1990), as well as structuring modes social interaction (Ré, 2011), the authors started a project to build and test a guiding program for Capoeira teaching agents, for them to structure and sustain the progression of learning the basic techniques, tactics and rules; as well as to introduce to the process of interaction between capoeiristas performers and instrumentalists, while respecting the cultural and historical values of Capoeira’ identity.
- Exploratory study on maturation and competition level in young karate practitionersPublication . Branco, Marco A. C.; Brito, Antonio Vences; Seabra, Ana Paula; Mercê, Cristiana; Rodrigues Ferreira, Mário André; Milheiro, Vitor; Catela, DavidEmparelhar crianças propicia sucesso e reduz lesões no desporto. Apesar das diferenças de maturação entre crianças, a idade cronológica mantém-se o principal critério para equalizar os níveis de competição, mas com uma eficiência limitada. No entanto, no karaté, o peso também é considerado. Fomos verificar se existe associação entre a idade cronológica e os indicadores maturacionais e, encontrar modelos simples que permitam colocar em reflexão novas formas de avaliação da maturação. Foram recolhidos dados em 54 jovens praticantes de karaté (idade: 12,67 ± 2,49 anos; experiência: 4,99 ± 2,44 anos; altura: 150,45 ± 15,25cm; peso: 43,09 ± 14,17 kg, 20 raparigas). A idade correlacionou-se significativamente com auto-observação da maturação sexual (rho = 0,838; p < 0,01), e foi possível encontrar modelos de regressão simples que têm uma explicação moderada na maturação, apenas utilizando variáveis de medição simples, tal como a altura, o peso e o perímetro do braço. Estes resultados devem levar as entidades competentes a refletir acerca do modo de emparelhamento dos atletas nas competições de uma forma justa em termos de maturação.
- 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: from training wheels to balance bikePublication . Mercê, Cristiana; Branco, Marco A. C.; Catela, David; Lopes, Frederico; Cordovil, R.Background: Learning to cycle is an important milestone in a child’s life, so it is important to allow them to explore cycling as soon as possible. The use of a bicycle with training wheels (BTW) for learning to cycling is an old approach practiced worldwide. Most recently, a new approach using the balance bike (BB) has received increased attention, and several entities believe that this could be most efficient. Drawing on the work of Bronfenbrenner (1995) and Newel (1986), this study aimed to analyse the effect of BB’s use on the learning process of cycling independently. Methods: Data were collected in Portugal from an online structured survey between November 2019 and June 2020. Results: A total of 2005 responses were obtained for adults and children (parental response). Results revealed that when the BB’s approach was used, learning age (LA) occurred earlier (M = 4.16 ± 1.34 years) than with the BTW’s approach (M = 5.97 ± 2.16 years) (p < 0.001); or than when there was only the single use of the traditional bicycle (M =7.27 ± 3.74 years) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Children who used the BB as the first bike had a significantly lower LA than children who did not use it (p < 0.001). To maximize its effects, the BB should be used in the beginning of the learning process.
- Learning to cycle: a constraint-led intervention programme using different cycling task constraintsPublication . Mercê, Cristiana; Davids, Keith; Catela, David; Branco, Marco A. C.; Correia, Vanda; Cordovil, R.Background: Cycling is a foundational movement skill which represents an important motor milestone to achieve in children’s lives. The use of a bicycle with training wheels is the most common approach for learning how to cycle, although some evidence suggests that this approach is counterproductive. Purpose: Underpinned by an ecological perspective and Constraints-led approach, this study investigated whether learning how to ride a conventional bicycle in childhood can be shaped by the specific task constraints related to the kind of training bicycle used beforehand (i.e. balance bike or bicycle with training wheels). This comparison could guide pedagogical practice to facilitate children’s learning in cycling and their independent riding. Methods: The Learning to Cycle intervention programme was introduced to 25 children (M = 6.08 ± 1.19 years) who could not previously cycle, divided into two treatment groups. One group trained with a bicycle with training wheels (BTW) and another with a balance bicycle (BB) for six sessions, followed by four sessions with a conventional bicycle (CB). The acquisition of independent cycling was assessed, based on established cycle learning milestone achievements, without help: (i) selflaunch, (ii) riding for at least 10 (consecutive) metres, and (iii), braking. To be considered an independent rider, participants needed to achieve all these milestones, without any external help. During the CB sessions, the number of sessions that each child needed to acquire each learning milestone and independent cycling were recorded. Results: The programme led to a success rate of 88% for achievement of independent cycling on a conventional bicycle, differentiated by 100% success in the BB group and 75% in the BTW group. The BB participants were significantly faster in learning to self-launch, ride, brake, and cycle independently, compared to BTW participants. Conclusions: The Learning to Cycle programme was effective for facilitating learning in children from three years of age onwards. Using the BB instead of the BTW seems to lead to a more effective and efficient acquisition of independent cycling at earlier ages.