Predictability and Complexity of Fine and Gross Motor Skills in Fibromyalgia Patients: A Pilot Study.

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.

Learning to Cycle: Is Velocity a Control Parameter for Children's Cycle Patterns on the Balance Bike?

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.

Learning to Cycle: A Cross-Cultural and Cross-Generational Comparison.

Background: 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, ηp2 = 0.086, and generation, F(2,8628) = 47.21, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 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 ( ηp2 = 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: From Training Wheels to Balance Bike.

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.

Analysis of Motor Behavior based on Recurrence Analysis in Adults with Autism Spectrum and Neurotypicals in a Dynamic Balance Task: a pilot study / Análisis del Comportamiento Motor basado en el Análisis de Recurrencia en Adultos con Espectro Autista y Neurotípicos en una Tarea de Equilibrio Dinámico: un estudio piloto / Análise do Comportamento Motor com base na Análise de Recorrência em Adultos com Espectro deAutismo e Neurotípicos numa Tarefa de Equilíbrio Dinâmico: um estudo piloto

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) refers to a range of neurodevelopmental disorders with deficits in postural control (PC), motor development and coordination. The PC deficit appears to be persistent across the spectrum and can limit the acquisition of new motor skills with severe consequences in life’s’ quality. Objectives: i) to verify if the nonlinear techniques can identify the local recurrence pattern in the phase space of the PC, in individuals with ASD, ii) to compare the PC between ASD and neurotypical individuals, during a task of dynamic rotation balance. Methods: six male adult individuals, three autistic and three neurotypicals, performed a dynamic balance task, where angular velocity data was collected from the trunk. Results: Despite the inexistence of significant differences, autistic adults revealed, for all planes of movement, higher mean values of recurrence, periodicity, stability (except for the maximum line in the transversal plane), complexity and intermittence; differences that were visually confirmed by observingthe recurrence graphs. Autistic participants also revealing lower mean values of Lyapunov exponent, meaning less divergency and variability than the neurotypicals. Conclusions: the autistic’s postural control strategy of a greater periodicity, stability and a lower divergence and variability, may result from less plasticity in the ability to adjust to momentary states of postural imbalance. This strategy could be linked to the autistic’s stereotypical behavior of continuously cyclical movements. However, this does not result in greater variability in movement, but less variability. Given the neuro-motor difficulty of these autistic adults in producing varied ranges of motion, it is recommended to introduce dynamic balance activities, starting with reduced levels of postural stability disturbance. (AU)

Introducción: Los trastornos del espectro autista (TEA) se refieren a una serie de trastornos del neurodesarrollo con déficits en el control postural (CP), el desarrollo motor y la coordinación. El déficit de CP parece estar muy extendido en todo el espectro y puede limitar la adquisición de nuevas habilidades motoras con graves consecuencias en la calidad de vida. Objetivos: i) verificar si las técnicas no lineales identifican el patrón de recurrencia local en el espacio de fase de la CP en individuos con TEA, ii) comparar la CP entre individuos con TEA y neuro típico, durante una tarea de equilibrio de rotación dinámica. Métodos: seis individuos adultos del sexo masculino, tres autistas y tres neuro típico, realizaron una tarea de equilibrio dinámico, donde se recolectaron datos sobre la velocidad angular del tronco. Resultados: A pesar de la ausencia de diferencias significativas, los adultos autistas mostraron, para todos los planos de movimiento, valores medios más altos para la recurrencia, la periodicidad, la estabilidad (excepto para la línea máxima en el plano transversal), la complejidad y la intermitencia; estas diferencias se confirmaron visualmente al observar los gráficos de recurrencia. Autistas también revelaron valores medios más bajos del exponente de Lyapunov, lo que significa menos divergencia y variabilidad en comparación con los neurotípicos. Conclusiones: La estrategia de control postural de los autistas basada en mayor periodicidad, estabilidad y menor divergencia y variabilidad en el control del equilibrio puede resultar de una menor plasticidad en la capacidad de adaptación a estados momentáneos de desequilibrio postural. (AU)

Introdução: Os transtornos do espectro do autismo (TEA) referem-se a uma gama de transtornos no neuro desenvolvimento com déficits nocontrole postural (CP), desenvolvimento motor e coordenação. O déficit no CP parece ser generalizado em todo o espectro e pode limitar a aquisição de novas habilidades motoras com graves consequências na qualidade de vida. Objetivos: i) verificar se as técnicas não lineares identificam o padrão de recorrência local no espaço de fase do CP em indivíduos com TEA, ii) comparar o CP entre indivíduos com TEA e neuro típicos, durante uma tarefa de equilíbrio dinâmico de rotação. Métodos: seis indivíduos adultos do sexo masculino, três autistas e três neuro típicos, realizaram uma tarefa de equilíbrio dinâmico, onde foram recolhidos dados da velocidade angular do tronco. Resultados: Apesar da inexistência de diferenças significativas, os adultos autistas revelaram, para todos os planos de movimento, valores médios superiores de recorrência, periodicidade, estabilidade (exceto na linha máxima no plano transversal), complexidade e intermitência; diferenças estas confirmadas visualmente pela observação dos gráficos derecorrência. Os autistas revelaram ainda valores médios mais baixos do expoente de Lyapunov, significando menor divergência e variabilidade em comparação com os neurotípicos. Conclusões: A estratégia de controle postural dos autistas baseada em maior periodicidade, estabilidade e menor divergência e variabilidade no controle do equilíbrio pode resultar de uma menor plasticidade na capacidade de se ajustar a estados momentâneos de desequilíbrio postural. Esta estratégia pode estar ligada ao comportamento estereotipado dos autistas de realização contínua de movimentos cíclicos. No entanto, isso não resulta em maior variabilidade no movimento, mas em menor variabilidade. (AU)

Learning to Cycle: Are Physical Activity and Birth Order Related to the Age of Learning How to Ride a Bicycle?

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.