ECSS Paris 2023: CP-BM02
INTRODUCTION: Motor skill learning is an individual process. Individual constraints such as body size and prior experiences contribute to motor performances as well as the progress of skill learning. Early identification of the result of these constraints allows adaptive guidance at an early stage. 3-ball cascade juggling is a complex yet attainable novel task to study motor learning . Prior research has often observed different progress rates among learners reflecting different stages of juggling development. Different functions have been used to model long-term learning performance. This study examined athletes from different sports backgrounds learning 3-ball cascade juggling and categorized them into different learning stages based on different models. METHODS: 16 college athletes with no prior experience with 3-ball juggling, 8 each from open- (O) and closed-skill (C) sports, participated in learning to do so. After a brief instruction session and the pre-test(PRE), participants practiced 15 min 3-ball juggling for 4 days, followed by a post-test(POST) on day 5. Based on the POST performance of 6 catches or more, participants were identified as in progression (P) or beginning (B) stages. The accelerated exponential (AEXP) and linear function (LN) fit the daily average catches of 4 practice days. The 2-way mixed-design ANOVA was used to examine differences in PRE-POST performance between O and C, as well as differences in R^2 between AEXP and LN within P and B. Additional independent t-tests were performed to compare the rate of change of AEXP and LN between P and B. RESULTS: For the number of successful catches, no significant differences were observed between the PRE and POST (p = .20), between O and C (p = .26), or in their interaction (p = .27). However, in the analysis of model fit, a significant interaction was found between function type and learning stages (p < .05). Post-hoc analysis indicated that AEXP R^2 value (0.98) were significantly higher than LN (0.85, p = .002) for P. No significant difference was observed between AEXP and LN in B. The rate of change was significantly higher for both the AEXP (p = .03) and LN (p = .002) for P compared to B. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that sports background did not contribute significantly to learning to 3-ball juggling in 4 days. The P group demonstrated rapid improvement, with the AEXP providing a better fit for their performance curves. The B group did not show significant differences in model fit between AEXP and LN, and their rates of change were significantly lower than that of the P group, indicating a slower progression over the practice. This suggests that the B group may require additional instructional support. The findings indicate that early-stage learning 3-ball juggling can be categorized based on the average number of successful catches, and the model-fitting results further support this classification.
Read CV Yi Chin WuECSS Paris 2023: CP-BM02
INTRODUCTION: Walking is a fundamental motor pattern that integrates complex biomechanical and neurological systems, whose efficiency is crucial for the development of advanced motor gestures such as running and its variations in sports and physical activities. Although it may seem like a simple coordination task, walking is, in fact, a multifaceted and systemic process that requires a deep biomechanical understanding to be effectively taught and optimized. This study aims to present and analyze eCrony, an innovative educational tool based on the Sincrony educational framework, designed to support students in sports science in comprehending human walking. METHODS: eCrony innovatively emphasizes proprioceptive and kinesthetic awareness as primary tools for motor comprehension. Using an experimental approach that differentiates between the causes and visible effects of movement, it equips learners with the knowledge needed to enhance their correction and teaching abilities. The tool, structured into four didactically progressive levels, introduces the concept of the "vacuum" as a theoretical framework to understand the influence of external forces like gravity and inertia on visible motor gestures. eCrony also guides students through the activation sequence of the main muscle groups involved in walking, using interactive modules, video demonstrations, and practical exercises. These combine proprioceptive feedback with theoretical knowledge. Additionally, this tool introduces advanced biomechanical concepts, such as the Grocco model (2008), which defines the basic segmental unit of movement as consisting of two joint segments and one motor muscle. RESULTS: The educational path provided by eCrony aims to stimulate learning by developing advanced observational skills essential for identifying errors and inefficiencies in motor gestures, particularly walking. The eCrony prototype transforms the traditional study of the gait cycle into an in-depth theoretical and practical analysis of walking as a transitional foundation for more advanced motor activities, such as running and jumping, which are fundamental to many sports. CONCLUSION: The expected outcomes from using this digital tool include improved observation and correction skills in walking for future sports science educators. Furthermore, eCrony, with its apparent simplicity, incorporates several innovative principles for motor education that could inspire new possibilities for teaching movement.
Read CV arianna fogliataECSS Paris 2023: CP-BM02
INTRODUCTION: Walking is used by physical therapists as both a technique for rehabilitation and as a measure of success to treat a number of conditions and diseases. The ability to walk in multiple directions including backward is an imperative for activities of daily living and survival. Retro walking is not simply the reverse of forward walking and with the changes in the direction there are changes to the joint kinematics occurring at the ankle, knee, and hip. The main aim of the study was to determine the therapeutic benefits of backward walking and provide guidelines for physical therapists. METHODS: The research design used was a scoping review. The sources of the scoping review included both randomised and non-randomised controlled trials which utilised “retro walking and/or backward walking”. The search of published literature was completed using databases. The sources of the research were published before 1 November 2024 which utilised backward walking in a physical rehabilitation context. The studies included in the literature review included adults (above 18 years old) both male and female. The articles that met the inclusion criteria were analysed by means of the data extraction form. From the articles that were analysed, the results were drawn up. Six articles were included and analysed to address the research question. RESULTS: A total of six studies met the inclusion criteria and were subsequently analyzed. Two of these studies specifically investigated the effects of backward walking interventions on patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, assessing parameters such as pain reduction, joint function, and biomechanical adaptations. Three studies focused on the application of retro walking as a rehabilitative strategy for individuals recovering from stroke, examining its impact on gait mechanics, balance restoration, and neuromuscular activation. The remaining study explored the influence of retro walking on individuals with general and abdominal obesity, evaluating changes in body composition and metabolic parameters. CONCLUSION: Backward walking is a valuable rehabilitative tool in physical therapy, offering significant therapeutic benefits for individuals physical rehabilitation for neuromuscular skeletal, neurological and chronic conditions. Backward walking is utilized to restore functional mobility, enhance proprioception, and improve neuromuscular control in individuals with neuromuscular skeletal conditions such as knee osteoarthritis. Additionally, it plays a critical role in neurological rehabilitation, aiding stroke survivors by promoting balance, gait symmetry, and lower limb coordination. Its application in chronic disease management, particularly in individuals with obesity in reduction in waist circumference further highlights its role in improving functional capacity and overall physical health. Backward walking is a cost effective, easy to administer tool that should be utilized in conjunction to traditional therapy.
Read CV Vuyelwa RadebeECSS Paris 2023: CP-BM02