Using Ripple Effects Mapping to understand the longer-term impacts of delivering a dance programme for older adults on dance artists.

BACKGROUND: The dance workforce plays a central role in delivering arts and health programmes yet there is little exploration of how programme delivery impacts dance artists in a professional or personal capacity. This study explored the experiences of dance artists delivering Dance On, which engages inactive older people 55yrs+. METHODS: Ripple Effects Mapping was used to explore the short- and long term experiences and practices of dance artists delivering a dance programme. FINDINGS: Two ripples were developed 1) Becoming a specialist 2) Connecting with communities. These ripples highlighted the strengths of the sustained nature of the programme and emphasised the need for ongoing support from employing organisations, communities, and dance artist peers. CONCLUSION: This study showcases the central role dance artists play in upholding the outcomes we observe in arts and health work - their role, expertise, and commitment to programmes should be further illuminated and supported through ongoing discourse about their practice.

Acute Effects of Strength and Skill Training on the Cortical and Spinal Circuits of Contralateral Limb.

Unilateral strength and skill training increase strength and performance in the contralateral untrained limb, a phenomenon known as cross-education. Recent evidence suggests that similar neural mechanisms might be responsible for the increase in strength and skill observed in the untrained hand after unimanual training. The aims of this study were to: investigate whether a single session of unimanual strength and skill (force-tracking) training increased strength and skill in the opposite hand; measure ipsilateral (untrained) brain (via transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS) and spinal (via the monosynaptic reflex) changes in excitability occurring after training; measure ipsilateral (untrained) pathway-specific changes in neural excitability (via TMS-conditioning of the monosynaptic reflex) occurring after training. Participants (N = 13) completed a session of unimanual strength (ballistic isometric wrist flexions) and skill (force-tracking wrist flexions) training on two separate days. Strength increased after training in the untrained hand (p = 0.025) but not in the trained hand (p = 0.611). Force-tracking performance increased in both the trained (p = 0.007) and untrained (p = 0.010) hand. Corticospinal excitability increased after force-tracking and strength training (p = 0.027), while spinal excitability was not affected (p = 0.214). TMS-conditioned monosynaptic reflex increased after force-tracking (p = 0.001) but not strength training (p = 0.689), suggesting a possible role of polysynaptic pathways in the increase of cortical excitability observed after training. The results suggest that cross-education of strength and skill at the acute stage is supported by increased excitability of the untrained motor cortex.New & Noteworthy: A single session of isometric wrist flexion strength and skill straining increased strength and skill in the untrained limb. The excitability of the untrained motor cortex increased after strength and skill training. TMS-conditioned H-reflexes increased after skill but not strength training in the untrained hand, indicating that polysynaptic pathways in the increase of cortical excitability observed after skill training.

The acute effects of motor imagery and cervical transcutaneous electrical stimulation on manual dexterity and neural excitability.

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TCES) of the spinal cord induces changes in spinal excitability. Motor imagery (MI) elicits plasticity in the motor cortex. It has been suggested that plasticity occurring in both cortical and spinal circuits might underlie the improvements in performance observed when training is combined with stimulation. We investigated the acute effects of cervical TCES and MI delivered in isolation or combined on corticospinal excitability, spinal excitability and manual performance. Participants (N = 17) completed three sessions during which they engaged in 20 min of: 1) MI, listening to an audio recording instructing to complete the purdue pegboard test (PPT) of manual performance; 2) TCES at the spinal level of C5-C6; 3) MI + TCES, listening to the MI script while receiving TCES. Before and after each condition, we measured corticospinal excitability via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at 100% and 120% motor threshold (MT), spinal excitability via single-pulse TCES and manual performance with the PPT. Manual performance was not improved by MI, TCES or MI + TCES. Corticospinal excitability assessed at 100% MT intensity increased in hand and forearm muscles after MI and MI + TCES, but not after just TCES. Conversely, corticospinal excitability assessed at 120% MT intensity was not affected by any of the conditions. The effects on spinal excitability depended on the recorded muscle: it increased after all conditions in biceps brachii (BB) and flexor carpi radialis (FCR); did not change after any conditions in the abductor pollicis brevis (APB); increased after TCES and MI + TCES, but not after just MI in the extensor carpi radialis (ECR). These findings suggest that MI and TCES increase the excitability of the central nervous system through different but complementary mechanisms, inducing changes in the excitability of spinal and cortical circuits. MI and TCES can be used in combination to modulate spinal/cortical excitability, an approach particularly relevant for people with limited residual dexterity who cannot engage in motor practice.

Dance on: a mixed-method study into the feasibility and effectiveness of a dance programme to increase physical activity levels and wellbeing in adults and older adults.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) has beneficial effects on physical and mental health outcomes in older adults. However, a consistent decline in PA participation has been noted with increasing age, with older adults consistently being reported as the least physically active population. Previous evidence showed that dance is an appropriate form of PA in older adults as it integrates the body's movement with physical, cognitive, and social elements. This study investigated the feasibility and efficacy of a weekly dance programme over a 12-month period on PA levels and wellbeing. METHODS: A mixed-method intervention design was used. Community-dwelling older adults aged 55 + years were recruited from local community groups in Yorkshire (UK). The programme comprised of a 60-min mixed genre dance class per week. Changes with carried forward data in self-reported measures of PA (min/week) and wellbeing with EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ VAS) across four different time points (baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months) were assessed using the Friedman test. Feasibility was also assessed through class attendance and focus groups (N = 6-9) with participants. A thematic analysis of qualitative data was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 685 participants (589-89.1% females and 72-10.9% males) took part in the study. The mean age was 75 ± 10 years, and 38% of the participants were classed as highly deprived as per the index of multiple deprivation. There was a statistically significant increase in both PA (X2(3) = 192.42, P < 0.001) and EQ VAS scores across the four time points (X2(3) = 19.66, P < 0.001). The mean adherence rate was consistent across the 12-month period of intervention (70%). Themes from the focus groups included reasons for participating in the programme, perceptions of how the dance programme affected the participants, and facilitators to participation in the programme. CONCLUSIONS: The good adherence and favourability indicate that the dance programme is feasible as an intervention in community-dwelling participants from socially economically diverse communities. The dance intervention showed a positive effect on PA levels and wellbeing. A randomised-controlled trial with a control group is required to test this intervention further.

Evaluating Muscle Synergies With EMG Data and Physics Simulation in the Neurorobotics Platform.

Although we can measure muscle activity and analyze their activation patterns, we understand little about how individual muscles affect the joint torque generated. It is known that they are controlled by circuits in the spinal cord, a system much less well-understood than the cortex. Knowing the contribution of the muscles toward a joint torque would improve our understanding of human limb control. We present a novel framework to examine the control of biomechanics using physics simulations informed by electromyography (EMG) data. These signals drive a virtual musculoskeletal model in the Neurorobotics Platform (NRP), which we then use to evaluate resulting joint torques. We use our framework to analyze raw EMG data collected during an isometric knee extension study to identify synergies that drive a musculoskeletal lower limb model. The resulting knee torques are used as a reference for genetic algorithms (GA) to generate new simulated activation patterns. On the platform the GA finds solutions that generate torques matching those observed. Possible solutions include synergies that are similar to those extracted from the human study. In addition, the GA finds activation patterns that are different from the biological ones while still producing the same knee torque. The NRP forms a highly modular integrated simulation platform allowing these in silico experiments. We argue that our framework allows for research of the neurobiomechanical control of muscles during tasks, which would otherwise not be possible.

Clinical Characteristics and Mechanisms of Musculoskeletal Pain in Long COVID.

Objective: Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is being increasingly reported by patients as one of the most common persistent symptoms in post-COVID-19 syndrome or Long COVID. However, there is a lack of understanding of its prevalence, characteristics, and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. The objective of this review is to identify and describe the features and characteristics of MSK pain in Long COVID patients. Methods: The narrative review involved a literature search of the following online databases: MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE (OVID), CINAHL, PsyclNFO, and Web of Science (December 2019 to February 2022). We included observational studies that investigated the prevalence, characteristics, risk factors and mechanisms of MSK pain in Long COVID. After screening and reviewing the initial literature search results, a total of 35 studies were included in this review. Results: The overall reported prevalence of MSK pain in Long COVID ranged widely from 0.3% to 65.2%. The pain has been reported to be localized to a particular region or generalized and widespread. No consistent pattern of progression of MSK pain symptoms over time was identified. Female gender and higher BMI could be potential risk factors for Long COVID MSK pain, but no clear association has been found with age and ethnicity. Different pathophysiological mechanisms have been hypothesized to contribute to MSK pain in Long COVID including increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, immune cell hyperactivation, direct viral entry of neurological and MSK system cells, and psychological factors. Conclusion: MSK pain is one of the most common symptoms in Long COVID. Most of the current literature on Long COVID focuses on reporting the prevalence of persistent MSK pain. Studies describing the pain characteristics are scarce. The precise mechanism of MSK pain in Long COVID is yet to be investigated. Future research must explore the characteristics, risk factors, natural progression, and underlying mechanisms of MSK pain in Long COVID.

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The relationship between Long Covid (LC) symptoms and physical activity (PA) levels are unclear. In this cross-sectional study, we examined this association, and the advice that individuals with LC received on PA. Adults with LC were recruited via social media. The New Zealand physical activity questionnaire short form (NZPAQ-SF) was adapted to capture current and pre-COVID-19 PA levels and activities of daily living (ADLs). Participants reported how PA affected their symptoms, and what PA recommendations they had received from healthcare professionals and other resources; 477 participants completed the survey. Mean age (SD) was 45.69 (10.02) years, 89.1% female, 92.7% white, and median LC duration was 383.5 days (IQR: 168.25,427). Participants were less active than pre-COVID-19 (26.88 ± 74.85 vs. 361.68 ± 396.29 min per week, p < 0.001) and required more assistance with ADLs in a 7-day period compared to pre-COVID-19 (2.23 ± 2.83 vs. 0.11 ± 0.74 days requiring assistance, p < 0.001). No differences were found between the number of days of assistance required with ADLs, or the amount of PA, and the different durations of LC illness (p > 0.05). Participants reported the effect of PA on LC symptoms as: worsened (74.84%), improved (0.84%), mixed effect (20.96%), or no effect (28.72%). Participants received contradictory advice on whether to be physically active in LC. LC is associated with a reduction in PA and a loss of independence, with most participants reporting PA worsened LC symptoms. PA level reduction is independent of duration of LC. Research is needed to understand how to safely return to PA without worsening LC symptoms.

The effect of limb position on a static knee extension task can be explained with a simple spinal cord circuit model.

The influence of proprioceptive feedback on muscle activity during isometric tasks is the subject of conflicting studies. We performed an isometric knee extension task experiment based on two common clinical tests for mobility and flexibility. The task was carried out at four preset angles of the knee, and we recorded from five muscles for two different hip positions. We applied muscle synergy analysis using nonnegative matrix factorization on surface electromyograph recordings to identify patterns in the data that changed with internal knee angle, suggesting a link between proprioception and muscle activity. We hypothesized that such patterns arise from the way proprioceptive and cortical signals are integrated in neural circuits of the spinal cord. Using the MIIND neural simulation platform, we developed a computational model based on current understanding of spinal circuits with an adjustable afferent input. The model produces the same synergy trends as observed in the data, driven by changes in the afferent input. To match the activation patterns from each knee angle and position of the experiment, the model predicts the need for three distinct inputs: two to control a nonlinear bias toward the extensors and against the flexors, and a further input to control additional inhibition of rectus femoris. The results show that proprioception may be involved in modulating muscle synergies encoded in cortical or spinal neural circuits.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The role of sensory feedback in motor control when limbs are held in a fixed position is disputed. We performed a novel experiment involving fixed position tasks based on two common clinical tests. We identified patterns of muscle activity during the tasks that changed with different leg positions and then inferred how sensory feedback might influence the observations. We developed a computational model that required three distinct inputs to reproduce the activity patterns observed experimentally. The model provides a neural explanation for how the activity patterns can be changed by sensory feedback.

The Effect of Sound and Stimulus Expectation on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Elicited Motor Evoked Potentials.

The amplitude of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the motor cortex is influenced by multiple factors. TMS delivery is accompanied by an abrupt clicking noise which can induce a startle response. This study investigated how masking/attenuating the sound produced by the TMS system discharging influences MEP amplitudes. In addition, the effects of increasing the time between consecutive stimuli and of making participants aware of the time at which they would be stimulated were studied. MEPs were recorded from the Flexor Carpi Radialis (FCR) muscle at rest by stimulation at motor threshold (MT), 120% MT and 140% MT intensity. Participants (N = 23) received stimulation under normal (NORMAL) conditions and while: wearing sound-attenuating earmuffs (EAR); listening to white noise (NOISE); the interval between stimuli were prolonged (LONG); stimulation timing was presented on a screen (READY). The results showed that masking (p = 0.020) and attenuating (p = 0.004) the incoming sound significantly reduced the amplitude of MEPs recorded across the intensities of stimulation. Increasing the interval between pulses had no effect on the recorded traces if a jitter was introduced (p = 1), but making participants aware of stimulation timing decreased MEP amplitudes (p = 0.049). These findings suggest that the sound produced by TMS at discharging increases MEP amplitudes and that MEP amplitudes are influenced by stimulus expectation. These confounding factors need to be considered when using TMS to assess corticospinal excitability.

Reliability of the TMS-conditioned monosynaptic reflex in the flexor carpi radialis muscle.

A subthreshold pulse of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the motor cortex can modulate the amplitude of the monosynaptic reflex (H-reflex) elicited in the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle, a method known as TMS-conditioning of the H-reflex. The purpose of this study was to establish the intersession reliability of this method over the course of three sessions. Eleven healthy participants received either peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), TMS or a combination of the two. The intensity of the PNS stimuli was set to evoke a monosynaptic response (H-reflex) corresponding to 10 % of the maximum motor response (Mmax), HM10 %. The conditioning effect of TMS on the monosynaptic reflex was assessed by delivering subthreshold cortical pulses at different conditioning-test intervals (from -7 ms to 7 ms) from peripheral nerve stimulation. The first interval at which facilitation could be observed was deemed early facilitation (EF). Using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), we found excellent reliability for Mmax amplitudes (ICC = 0.98), HM10 % amplitudes (ICC = 0.85) and TMS-conditioned H-reflexes recorded at the interval following EF (EF + 2 ms) (ICC = 0.87). Good reliability (ICCs ranging from 0.67 to 0.77) was found for the other conditioning-test intervals. We conclude that TMS-conditioned H-reflexes are reliable parameters to assess the excitability of corticospinal circuits.

The effect of using a cycling workstation on mouse dexterity.

This study investigated the effect of using a cycling workstation on mouse dexterity, including if and how this changed with practice. Thirty-four healthy adults were allocated to a sitting group (n = 17) or cycling group (n = 17). All participants completed standardised computer tasks on 6 occasions: baseline and final-all participants were seated; practice 1 to 4-sitting group participants were seated, cycling group participants pedalled on an under desk cycle. Three computer tasks were employed: (1) Tracking (continuous task)-participants used the mouse pointer to track a dot in a figure of 8 pattern at 3 different speeds without a guide then with a guide (2) Aiming (discrete task)-participants moved the mouse pointer to a dot which repeatedly disappeared then reappeared again in different locations, creating the outline of a pentagram (3) Steering (continuous task)-participants steered the mouse pointer around two different pathways. Accuracy was measured during the Tracking and Steering tasks as the root mean square error and penalised path accuracy respectively. Speed was measured during the Aiming task as the movement time. Data was analysed using frequentist and Bayes Factor analyses. During the continuous tasks (Tracking and Steering), accuracy was impaired among participants using the cycling workstation, both compared to their accuracy when seated and to the accuracy of participants in the sitting group. In contrast, no deficits in speed were noted among participants using the cycling work station during the discrete task (Aiming). No learning effects were observed among either group for any tasks. These findings suggest using a cycling workstation may impair the accuracy but not speed of mouse use, regardless of task practice. Overall this supports the implementation of cycling workstations in typical office settings, but suggests cycling workstations may impair productivity among workers performing high precision mouse tasks.

The effects of unimanual and bimanual massed practice on upper limb function in adults with cervical spinal cord injury: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) have identified improving upper limb function as their most important rehabilitation goal. Unimanual massed practice (UMP) and bimanual massed practice (BMP) may help achieve this. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the effects of UMP and BMP on upper limb function in adults with cSCI. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science and PEDro until April 2016. STUDY SELECTION: Studies investigating the effects of UMP and/or BMP on upper limb function in adults with cSCI. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data was extracted using a standardised form. Studies were appraised using a modified version of the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The findings were qualitatively synthesised. RESULTS: Five randomised controlled trials and 2 case studies were included. Six studies included UMP, three included BMP, and two compared these approaches. Overall the studies reported that UMP and BMP improved upper limb function, particularly when combined with electrical stimulation, with no clear differences between UMP and BMP. These findings should be interpreted with caution however, as 6 studies presented a high or unclear risk of bias for all functional upper limb outcome measures included, and the remaining study was a small pilot study with no control group. CONCLUSION: Although the findings of the included studies support the use of UMP and BMP in adults with cSCI, only 7 studies, all with significant limitations, were included; hence robust conclusions cannot be drawn and further research is warranted. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42016037365.

The relationship between perfectionistic self-presentation and reactions to impairment and disability following spinal cord injury.

Univariate and multivariate relationships between perfectionistic self-presentation and reactions to impairment and disability following spinal cord injury were examined. A total of 144 adults with spinal cord injury ( M = 48.18 years old, SD = 15.96) completed self-report measures. Analyses revealed that, after controlling for time since injury and gender, perfectionistic self-presentation predicted six of eight reactions, shock, depression and internalised anger particularly strongly. In addition, at multivariate level, perfectionistic self-presentation was positively related to non-adaptive reactions and negatively related to adaptive reactions. The findings suggest that perfectionistic self-presentation may contribute to poorer psychosocial adaptation to spinal cord injury.

Bimanual reach to grasp movements after cervical spinal cord injury.

Injury to the cervical spinal cord results in bilateral deficits in arm/hand function reducing functional independence and quality of life. To date little research has been undertaken to investigate control strategies of arm/hand movements following cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI). This study aimed to investigate unimanual and bimanual coordination in patients with acute cSCI using 3D kinematic analysis as they performed naturalistic reach to grasp actions with one hand, or with both hands together (symmetrical task), and compare this to the movement patterns of uninjured younger and older adults. Eighteen adults with a cSCI (mean 61.61 years) with lesions at C4-C8, with an American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade B to D and 16 uninjured younger adults (mean 23.68 years) and sixteen uninjured older adults (mean 70.92 years) were recruited. Participants with a cSCI produced reach-to-grasp actions which took longer, were slower, and had longer deceleration phases than uninjured participants. These differences were exacerbated during bimanual reach-to-grasp tasks. Maximal grasp aperture was no different between groups, but reached earlier by people with cSCI. Participants with a cSCI were less synchronous than younger and older adults but all groups used the deceleration phase for error correction to end the movement in a synchronous fashion. Overall, this study suggests that after cSCI a level of bimanual coordination is retained. While there seems to be a greater reliance on feedback to produce both the reach to grasp, we observed minimal disruption of the more impaired limb on the less impaired limb. This suggests that bimanual movements should be integrated into therapy.

Dancing in time: feasibility and acceptability of a contemporary dance programme to modify risk factors for falling in community dwelling older adults.

BACKGROUND: Falls are a common cause of injury in older adults, with the prevention of falls being a priority for public health departments around the world. This study investigated the feasibility, and impact of an 8 week contemporary dance programme on modifiable physical (physical activity status, mobility, sedentary behaviour patterns) and psychosocial (depressive state, fear of falling) risk factors for falls. METHODS: An uncontrolled 'pre-post' intervention design was used. Three groups of older (60 yrs.+) adults were recruited from local community groups to participate in a 3 separate, 8 week dance programmes. Each programme comprised two, 90 min dance classes per week. Quantitative measures of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, depression, mobility and fear of falling were measured at baseline (T1) and after 8 weeks of dance (T2). Weekly attendance was noted, and post-study qualitative work was conducted with participants in 3 separate focus groups. A combined thematic analysis of these data was conducted. RESULTS: Of the 38 (Mean Age = 77.3 ± 8.4 yrs., 37 females) who attended the dance sessions, 22 (21 females; 1 male; mean age = 74.8, ±8.44) consented to be part of the study. Mean attendance was 14.6 (±2.6) sessions, and mean adherence was 84.3% (±17). Significant increases in moderate and vigorous physical activity were noted, with a significant decrease in sitting time over the weekdays (p < 0.05). Statistically significant decreases in the mean Geriatric Depression Scale (p < 0.05) and fear of falling (p < 0.005) score were noted, and the time taken to complete the TUG test decreased significantly from 10.1 s to 7.7 s over the 8 weeks (p < 0.005). Themes from the focus groups included the dance programme as a means of being active, health Benefits, and dance-related barriers and facilitators. CONCLUSIONS: The recruitment of older adults, good adherence and favourability across all three sites indicate that a dance programme is feasible as an intervention, but this may be limited to females only. Contemporary dance has the potential to positively affect the physical activity, sitting behaviour, falls related efficacy, mobility and incidence of depression in older females which could reduce their incidence of falls. An adequately powered study with control groups are required to test this intervention further.

Eye and hand movement strategies in older adults during a complex reaching task.

The kinematics of upper limb movements and the coordination of eye and hand movements are affected by ageing. These age differences are exacerbated when task difficulty is increased, but the exact nature of these differences remains to be established. We examined the performance of 12 older adults (mean age = 74) and 11 younger adults (mean age = 20) on a multi-phase prehension task. Participants had to reach for a target ball with their preferred hand, pick it up and place it in a tray, then reach for a second target ball and place that in the same tray. On half the trials (stabilising condition), participants were required to hold the tray just above the surface of the table with their non-preferred hand and keep it as still as possible. Hand and eye movements were recorded. Older adults took longer to complete their movements and reached lower peak velocities than the younger adults. Group differences were most apparent in the stabilising condition, suggesting that the added complexity had a greater effect on the performance of the older adults than the young. During pickup, older adults preferred to make an eye movement to the next target as soon as possible, but spent longer fixating the current target during placement, when accuracy requirements were higher. These latter observations suggest that older adults employed a task-dependent eye movement strategy, looking quickly to the next target to allow more time for planning and execution when possible, but fixating on their hand and successful placement of the ball when necessary.

Movement rehabilitation after spinal cord injuries: emerging concepts and future directions.

Considerable inroads are being made into developing new treatments for spinal cord injury (SCI) which aim to facilitate functional recovery, including locomotion. Research on rehabilitative strategies following SCI using animal models has demonstrated that regaining and maintaining motor function, such as standing or stepping, is governed by principles of skill acquisition. Mechanisms key to learning motor tasks, including retention and transfer of skill, feedback and conditions of practice, all have examples in the SCI animal literature, although the importance of many concepts may often be overlooked. Combinatorial strategies which include physical rehabilitation are beginning to yield promising results. However, the effects of molecular-cellular interventions including chondroitinaseABC, anti-NogoA, foetal stem cell transplantation, etc., are still poorly understood with reference to the changes made to spinal plasticity by training and exercise. Studies that investigate the interplay between rehabilitation and other treatments have had mixed results; it appears likely that precise timings of different interventions will help to maximize recovery of function. Understanding how the time-course of injury and different rehabilitative and treatment modalities might factor into spinal plasticity will be critical in future therapeutic interventions.

The use of sound during exercise to assist development for children with and without movement difficulties.

PURPOSE: To identify and review the literature on the role of sound in facilitating movement and development. The emphasis was to consider the role of sound during exercise and rehabilitation and to encourage researchers to further explore the role of sound in movement development and rehabilitation. METHODS: A review of key and relevant literature was conducted. Data related to the proof-of-concept of a ball emitting broadband sound to enhance motor development in children with and without movement disorders is presented. RESULTS: Analyses of the data indicated an interaction between group and block of training (p

Coupling of the reach and grasp phase during catching in children with developmental coordination disorder.

The authors studied 2-handed catching behavior in 10 children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), aged 7-10 years old, and their typically developing peers (TDC). Participants performed 15 catches, and the authors examined kinematics of both transport and grasp phases. In terms of the transport phase, movement initiation and movement time was longer and peak deceleration was earlier in children with DCD. In addition, such children initiated the grasp phase earlier, and their maximal grasp aperture was larger. In children with DCD, the time to maximal grasp aperture was more variable, and that aperture was earlier when the authors examined it with respect to the transport phase of the catch. The data suggest that children with DCD may use a decomposition strategy to simplify the movement control of the transport and grasp phases of a catch.

Developmental sequences of two-handed catching: how do children with and without developmental coordination disorder differ?

The present study examined the movement patterns in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and their age-matched controls (AMC) while catching two-handed. First, a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate developmental characteristics within the three body component actions (arm, hand, and body) of two-handed catching hypothesized by Haywood and Getchell (2005). Data analyzed from 36 children (18 DCD, 18 AMC) aged 7-10 years who caught a ball 10 times, two-handed, showed that hypothesized sequences for the arm, hand, and body met the prelongitudinal screening criteria proposed by Roberton (1978), Langendorfer (1982), and Roberton, Williams, and Langendorfer (1980). In light of this, the second part of the study used these sequences to evaluate the movement patterns of 10 children with and 10 without DCD, aged 7-8 years. The data revealed that children with DCD displayed less advanced modal developmental sequence levels than AMC children with respect to the arm and body action components. (p