scholarly journals Adolescent Awkwardness: Alterations in Temporal Control Characteristics of Posture with Maturation and the Relation to Movement Exploration

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Wachholz ◽  
Federico Tiribello ◽  
Maurice Mohr ◽  
Steven van Andel ◽  
Peter Federolf

A phenomenon called adolescent awkwardness is believed to alter motor control, but underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Since adolescents undergo neurological and anthropometrical changes during this developmental phase, we hypothesized that adolescents control their movements less tightly and use a different coordinative structure compared to adults. Moreover, we tested if emerging differences were driven by body height alterations between age groups. Using 39 reflective markers, postural movements during tandem stance with eyes open and eyes closed of 12 adolescents (height 168.1 ± 8.8 cm) and 14 adults were measured, in which 9 adults were smaller or equal than 180 cm (177.9 ± 3.0 cm) and 5 taller or equal than 190 cm (192.0 ± 2.5 cm). A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to extract the first nine principal movement components (PMk). The contribution of each PMk to the overall balancing movement was determined according to their relative variance share (rVARk) and tightness of motor control was examined using the number of times that the acceleration of each PMk changed direction (Nk). Results in rVARk did not show significant differences in coordinative structure between adolescents and adults, but Nk revealed that adolescents seem to control their movements less tightly in higher-order PMk, arguably due to slower processing times and missing automatization of postural control or potential increases in exploration. Body height was found to not cause motor control differences between age groups.

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (91) ◽  
pp. 29-36
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Sterkowicz-Przybycień ◽  
Paula Fundament

Aim. The aim of this study was to compare the indices of physical development, frequency and time duration of training, and the results of physical fitness tests depending on age and level of sports achievements among rhythmic gymnasts. Materials and methods. The study comprised 36 rhythmic gymnasts: Gr1 (n=13, 9.0±1.0 years), Gr2 (n=11, 11.36±0.5 years), Gr3 (n=12, 14.27±0.7 years). After standardised sports interview, the groups with lower level of sports achievements (LSL) (n=20) and higher level of sports achievements (HSL) (n=16) were defined. Measurements of body height and mass were performed. The study participants performed the broad jump test, Unipedal Stance Test with Eyes Open (UPST-EO) and Eyes Closed (EC), and the rhythmic gymnastics specific coordinative test with a hoop. Results. The number of training sessions per week and their duration did not depend on age. The results of the broad jump were significantly different for groups Gr1, Gr2 and Gr3 (F=27.02, p<0.01). The average results for the 3 trials of UPST-EO in Gr2 and Gr3 were better than in Gr1 (F=5.51, p=0.008). The average result of UPST-EC for Gr3 was also significantly better than for Gr1 (W=9.53, p=0.008). The hoop test showed differences for all age groups Gr1<Gr3<Gr2 (F=11.55, p<0.001). HSL athletes were significantly different from LSL in frequency and duration of training, average results from 3 trials of UPST-EO, UPSTEC and the best result of UPST-EC (p<0.05). Conclusions. Differences between groups in physical fitness tests results depended on gymnasts’ age and showed their usefulness in the control of training at a particular stage of sports development. HSL gymnasts predominated over LSL in results of the one-leg standing position postural balance test with eyes opened and closed. The detected differences can be useful for coaches in identifying and developing gymnastic talent.


Author(s):  
Patrik Kutilek ◽  
Ondrej Cakrt ◽  
Vladimir Socha ◽  
Karel Hana

AbstractThe position of the trunk can be negatively affected by many diseases. This work focuses on a noninvasive method of quantifying human postural stability and identifying defects in balance and coordination as a result of the nervous system pathology. We used a three-degree-of-freedom orientation tracker (Xsens MTx unit) placed on a patient’s trunk and measured three-dimensional (3-D) data (pitch, roll, and yaw) during quiet stance. The principal component analysis was used to analyze the data and to determine the volume of 3-D 95% confidence ellipsoid. Using this method, we were able to model the distribution of the measured 3-D data (pitch, roll, and yaw). Eight patients with degenerative cerebellar disease and eight healthy subjects in this study were measured during stance, with eyes open and eyes closed, and statistical analysis was performed. The results of the new method based on the 3-D confidence ellipsoid show that the volumes related to the patients are significantly larger than the volumes related to the healthy subjects. The concept of confidence ellipsoid volume, although known to the biomechanics community, has not been used before to study the postural balance problems. The method can also be used to study, for example, head and pelvis movements or alignments during stance.


Author(s):  
David Darmon ◽  
Tomas Watanabe ◽  
Christopher Cellucci ◽  
Paul E Rapp

Multichannel EEGs were obtained from healthy participants in the eyes-closed no-task condition (where the alpha component is typically abolished). EEG dynamics in the two conditions were quantified with two related binary Lempel-Ziv measures of the first principal component and with three measures of integrated information including the more recently proposed integrated synergy. Both integrated information and integrated synergy with model order p=1 had greater values in the eyes closed condition. If the model order of integrated synergy was determined with the Bayesian Information Criterion, this pattern was reversed, and in common with other measures, integrated synergy was greater in the eyes open condition. Eyes open versus eyes closed separation was quantified by calculation of the between-condition effect size. Lempel-Ziv complexity of the first principal component showed greater separation than the measures of integrated information. The performance of the integrated information measures investigated here when distinguishing between indisputably different physiological states encourages caution when advocating for their use as measures of consciousness.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Sogol Zeinali ◽  
◽  
Zahra Olyaei ◽  
Benyamin Kor ◽  
Maryam Binesh ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives: Balance problems are the main cause of falls and fall-related complications in the elderly. The objective of this study was to investigate the balance in old people residing in nursing homes using clinical assessments. Methods: A total of 54 people participated in this cross-sectional study. Timed Up and Go (TUG) was used to assess balance regarding mobility impairments. The modified Clinical Test Of Sensory Interaction on Balance (CTSIB) was also used to assess balance regarding sensory problems. This test was used in 4 conditions: standing with eyes open on a firm surface, standing with eyes closed on a firm surface, standing with eyes open on a compliant foam, and standing with eyes closed on a compliant foam. Data analysis was done by SPSS V. 18 software. Results: The mean time for the completion of TUG was significantly higher than standard scores in all age groups (P<0.05). Postural sway during standing with eyes closed on the ground, eyes open and eyes closed on the foam was more than standing with eyes open on the ground (P<0.001). Postural sway in standing with eyes closed on the foam was more in comparison with standing with eyes closed on the ground and eyes open on the foam (P<0.001). Conclusion: Elderly people living in nursing homes had poorer motor skills to maintain balance. They also showed greater dependence on visual and sensory systems to maintain balance.


2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (05) ◽  
pp. 1737-1744 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. RAPP ◽  
C. J. CELLUCCI ◽  
T. A. A. WATANABE ◽  
A. M. ALBANO

In this contribution, eleven different measures of the complexity of multichannel EEGs are described, and their effectiveness in discriminating between two behavioral conditions (eyes open resting versus eyes closed resting) is compared. Ten of the methods were variants of the algorithmic complexity and the covariance complexity. The eleventh measure was a multivariate complexity measure proposed by Tononi and Edelman. The most significant between-condition change was observed with Tononi–Edelman complexity which decreased in the eyes open condition. Of the algorithmic complexity measures tested, the binary Lempel–Ziv complexity and the binary Lempel–Ziv redundancy of the first principal component following mean normalization and normalization against the standard deviation gave the most significant between-group discrimination. A time-dependent generalization of the covariance complexity that can be applied to nonstationary multichannel signals is also described.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Wachholz ◽  
Federico Tiribello ◽  
Arunee Promsri ◽  
Peter Federolf

Dual-tasking charges the sensorimotor system with performing two tasks simultaneously. Center of pressure (COP) analysis reveals the postural control that is altered during dual-tasking, but may not reveal the underlying neural mechanisms. In the current study, we hypothesized that the minimal intervention principle (MIP) provides a concept by which dual-tasking effects on the organization and prioritization of postural control can be predicted. Postural movements of 23 adolescents (age 12.7 ± 1.3; 8 females) and 15 adults (26.9 ± 2.3) were measured in a bipedal stance with eyes open, eyes closed and eyes open while performing a dual-task using a force plate and 39 reflective markers. COP data was analyzed by calculating the mean velocity, standard deviation and amplitude of displacement. Kinematic data was examined by performing a principal component analysis (PCA) and extracting postural movement components. Two variables were determined to investigate changes in amplitude (aVark) and in control (Nk) of the principal movement components. Results in aVark and in Nk agreed well with the predicted dual-tasking effects. Thus, the current study corroborates the notion that the MIP should be considered when investigating postural control under dual-tasking conditions.


2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex J.Y. Lee ◽  
Wei-Hsiu Lin

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of gender and somatotypes on single-leg upright standing postural stability in children. A total of 709 healthy children from different schools were recruited to measure the anthropometric somatotypes and the mean radius of center of pressure (COP) on a force platform with their eyes open and eyes closed. The results were that (a) girls revealed significantly smaller mean radius of COP distribution than boys, both in the eyes open and eyes closed conditions, and (b) the mesomorphic, muscular children had significantly smaller mean radius of COP distribution than the endomorphic, fatty children and the ectomorphic, linear children during the eyes closed condition. The explanation for gender differences might be due to the larger body weight in boys. The explanation for somatotype differences might be due to the significantly lower body height and higher portion of muscular profile in the mesomorphic children.


Entropy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 1434
Author(s):  
David Darmon ◽  
Tomas Watanabe ◽  
Christopher Cellucci ◽  
Paul E. Rapp

Multichannel EEGs were obtained from healthy participants in the eyes-closed no-task condition and in the eyes-open condition (where the alpha component is typically abolished). EEG dynamics in the two conditions were quantified with two related binary Lempel–Ziv measures of the first principal component, and with three measures of integrated information, including the more recently proposed integrated synergy. Both integrated information and integrated synergy with model order p=1 had greater values in the eyes-closed condition. When the model order of integrated synergy was determined with the Bayesian Information Criterion, this pattern was reversed, and in line with the other measures, integrated synergy was greater in the eyes-open condition. Eyes-open versus eyes-closed separation was quantified by calculating the between-condition effect size. The Lempel–Ziv complexity of the first principal component showed greater separation than the measures of integrated information.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrycja Bobowik ◽  
Ida Wiszomirska

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of obesity and age on body balance disorders in women over 60, especially whether obesity increases the FR in older females and whether age and obesity affect the same stabilographic parameters when it comes to the FR. Methods: The study consisted of 56 inactive females aged 71.77 ± 7.43 (SD). They were divided into groups according to age and obesity. Results: Obesity separately affects FRI12-6, static indicators with eyes closed (OSI EC, APSI EC, MLSI EC), and age affects FRI12-6 and static indices with eyes open (OSI EO, APSI EO). After considering design factors (age and obesity), there were statistically significant differences in OSI EO (p = 0.027), APSI EO (p = 0.034), FRI12-6 (p = 0.0002) between obese and non-obese participants in the age groups. There were no statistical differences between non-obese old and obese-young participants (p = 0.863). The interaction between obesity and age in the FR in static indices and in FRI12-6 (p = 0.73047) was not significant. Conclusions: Age and obesity affect the stabilographic parameters individually, but there is no interaction effect between them. The presence of only one of the above risk factors may increase the FR. Obesity affects stability, while age depends on other factors. If older people are not obese or fit, involutional changes could be reversed. The type of obesity and the location of the fat tissue should be taken into account in FR assessment.


2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Yakubu

This study was preformed to evaluate the biometric traits of 227 Yankasa sheep in northern Nigeria under a multivariate approach. The body measurements taken were: withers height, rump height, body length, heart girth, tail length, face length, shoulder width, head width, rump width, ear length, foreleg length, hind leg length and rump length. The animals were divided into two age groups: <15.5 and 15.5 - 28.3 months old, respectively. General linear model was used to study age group effect while principal component factor analysis was performed to define body shape upon the correlation matrix of the thirteen body measurements. Age group significantly (P<0.05) affected the morphological characters except ear length. Pearson?s coefficients of correlation were positive and significant in both age groups. In <15.5 months old sheep, four principal components (factors) were extracted (ratio of variance = 89.27). The first factor accounted for 73.03% of the total variance and was interpreted as a measure of general size. The second factor which explained 7.61% of the generalized variance tended to describe flesh dimensions (shoulder width and rump width), while the third factor had its loadings for tail length and ear length. The fourth factor was influenced by head width. In 15.5-28.3 months old sheep, three factors (ratio of variance=75.21) were identified. These seven extracted factors could be considered in breeding programmes to improve body conformation of sheep since variation in meat traits was not associated with body height.


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