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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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Training programmes to learn how to ride a bicycle independently for children and youths: a systematic reviewPublication . Mercê, Cristiana; Vilar Pereira, Joana; Branco, Marco A. C.; Catela, David; Cordovil, R.Background: The bicycle is a popular means of transportation, exercise, recreation and also socializing for children worldwide, allowing them several physical and psychological benefits. Several methodologies and types of bicycles have been used for learning how to cycle, however, the best approach is still unclear. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review and summarize the existent studies of programmes that aim to teach children how to ride a bicycle independently, in order to identify which possibilities lead to a more efficient intervention. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in seven electronic databases (TRID, CENTRAL, Web of Science, SCOPUS, EBSCO, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses and Google Scholar), including grey literature and the citations of relevant articles, from their inception to April 2020. Studies were included according to the eligibility criteria: children and youths aged 18 or less, with and without disabilities; intervention programmes that aimed to teach how to ride a bicycle with a pre- and post-intervention assessment regarding the ability to ride. The Downs and Black checklist was used for quality assessment. Results: Nine intervention studies, including a randomized controlled trial, were included. The mean quality score was 11.8 ± 3.6 points. Just one of the included studies was targeted at children without disabilities. Different facilitating constraints and barriers were identified, which resulted in a list of tips for future intervention programmes to teach children how to ride a bicycle. The facilitating constrains were using a progressive learning strategy; using an individualized approach; making bicycle adjustments; having motivated children and having family support throughout the learning process. The barriers were: the fear of falling; lack of parents’ support; and lower leg strength. Learning to cycle was also associated with a decrease in sedentary time, increase in physical activity, improvement in leg strength, and a positive influence on body composition, indicating that it can be a solution to disrupt the cycle of consistent weight gain over time in children with disabilities. Conclusions: There is a gap concerning intervention studies to teach children without disabilities how to cycle. The best strategy is probably aprogressive learning strategy by using simpler training bicycles that enable the child to explore balance from the beginning, and simpler exercises first. Teaching programmes should adopt an individualized intervention, feedback and motivation, considering each child’s specific characteristics.
- Learning to cycle: why is the balance bike more efficient than the bicycle with training wheels?Publication . Mercê, Cristiana; Davids, Keith; Cordovil, R.; Catela, David; Branco, Marco A. C.Recent research indicates that the balance bike (BB) is most efficient to learn to cycle than the bicycle with lateral training wheels (BTW), but reasons for this are still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the cause of the BB's higher learning efficiency by analysing the variability of the children and the bicycles when learning, during the “Learning to Cycle” program. Participants were 23 children (6±1,2 years), divided into two training groups: BB (N=12) and BTW (N=11). Angular velocity data were obtained from inertial sensors (IMU) placed on the child and on the bicycle. Data while cycling was collected at three moments: i) before the program with the group’s training bicycle (O1), ii) after six sessions with the same bicycle (O2), and iii), two months after the program, using a traditional bicycle (O3). Variability was assessed using the largest Lyapunov exponent. Results showed that the BB provided greater postural variability than the BTW during learning (O1 and O2), potentially leading to more adaptive responses when transitioning to the traditional bicycle (O3).
- Aprender a ciclar em 5 horas? Resultados de 2 intervençõesPublication . Bernardino, Mafalda; Branco, Marco A. C.; Catela, David; Cordovil, R.; Mercê, CristianaCapacitar as nossas crianças a ciclar é capacitá-las para uma vida mais saudável, mais plena e mais responsável. A utilização da bicicleta com rodas laterais de treino (BRL) é a abordagem mais comum para aprender a ciclar, no entanto a literatura sugere-a como contraproducente. O presente estudo implementou o programa Learning to Cycle com os objetivos de: i) promover a aquisição de ciclar, e ii) investigar e comparar a utilização da bicicleta de equilíbrio (BE) e BRL durante esta aquisição. Participaram 51 crianças (M=5,82±0,94 anos) do pré-escolar e 1ºCEB, que não sabiam ciclar previamente, divididas por 2 grupos. Um grupo explorou a BE e outro a BRL durante 6 sessões, seguindo-se mais 4 sessões com a bicicleta convencional (BC). A avaliação do ciclar independente foi considerada como a capacidade de realizar, sequencialmente e sem ajuda, os seguintes marcos de ciclar: iniciar, equilibrar e travar. Foi registado o número de sessões com a BC que cada criança necessitou para adquirir cada marco de ciclar e o ciclar independente. O programa revelou 88,24% de sucesso para a aquisição de ciclar independente, 100% na BE e 76,92% na BRL. As crianças do grupo da BE adquiriram significativamente mais rápido os marcos de iniciar, equilibrar e travar, bem como o ciclar independente. Os resultados evidenciam que a intervenção para adquirir o ciclar pode ser aplicada com sucesso a partir do pré-escolar, e que a BE é uma bicicleta de aprendizagem mais eficiente que a BRL.
- Aprender a andar de bicicleta: padrões de locomoção na bicicleta de equílibrio, composição corporal e competência motoraPublication . Mercê, Cristiana; Branco, Marco A. C.; Catela, David; Cordovil, RitaA bicicleta de equilíbrio (BE) é utilizada na aprendizagem de andar de bicicleta, priorizando o equilíbrio desde o início da aprendizagem. Objetivos: i) observar e categorizar o comportamento de crianças na BE; ii) verificar associação entre tempo da tarefa e comportamentos realizados, com competência motora (CM) e composição corporal (CC). Métodos: amostra de 35 crianças, 3-5 anos (4,72±,77), 10 ensaios de 10 metros cada, com a BE. Medição do percentil de CM com a bateria MCA. Análise qualitativa de vídeo dos 1º e 10º ensaios. Resultados: identificados 7 padrões de comportamento distintos na BE: andar, correr, andar a pé cochinho, saltar, trotar, planar e outros. Ocorreu uma diminuição significativa do tempo total do 1º para o 10º ensaios (p=.032); sem aumento do número de padrões. Nos 1º e 10º ensaios, há associação negativa da idade com tempo de execução e positiva com número de padrões. A CM revelou uma associação negativa com tempo de execução e positiva com número de padrões. Não houve associações com a CC. Discussão: as crianças detetaram e exploraram affordances diversas com a BE. Idade e CM influenciaram o comportamento motor das crianças com a BE, quanto maior a idade e melhor a CM, maior a velocidade e número de padrões experienciados.
- Aprender a ciclar: bicicleta de equilíbrio ou com rodas de treino? Resultados de uma intervenção de 2 semanasPublication . Mercê, Cristiana; Davids, Keith; Catela, David; Branco, Marco A. C.; Correia, Vanda; Cordovil, R.O presente estudo visou investigar se aprender a andar de bicicleta (ciclar) na infância pode ser moldado pelo constrangimento da tarefa relativo ao tipo de bicicleta de aprendizagem, i.e., bicicleta de equilíbrio (BE) e com rodas laterais (BRL). Participaram no programa Learning to Cycle 25 crianças (entre 3-7 anos, M=6,08±1,19 anos) que não sabiam ciclar previamente, divididas em 2 grupos. Um grupo treinou com a BE e o outro com a BRL. A aquisição do ciclar autónomo foi avaliada com base em marcos de ciclar: (i) iniciar, (ii) pedalar em equilíbrio por pelo menos 10 metros consecutivos e (iii) travar. Para adquirir o ciclar autónomo o participante teria de atingir todos os marcos sem ajuda. Após 6 sessões de treino as crianças transitaram para a bicicleta tradicional, registando-se o número de dias que cada criança necessitou para adquirir cada marco. O programa teve uma taxa de sucesso de 88% para a aquisição do ciclar autónomo, com 100% no grupo da BE e 75% no da BRL. Os participantes da BE adquiriram todos os marcos, bem como o ciclar autónomo, mais rapidamente do que os da BRL. O número de dias necessários para o pedalar em equilíbrio foi associado positivamente ao índice de massa corporal. Não foi encontrada qualquer correlação com a competência motora. O programa Learning to Cycle foi eficaz na aprendizagem de ciclar para crianças a partir dos 3 anos de idade. O uso da BE em detrimento da BRL parece conduzir a uma aprendizagem mais eficaz e eficiente do ciclar autónomo.