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Physical Activity and its Relation to Physical Fitness and Motor Skill Performance in Women Ages 45 - 65 Years

Description

This study examined the relationships between the amount of physical activity engagement and two sets of health-related tests: measures of physical fitness (abdominal curl-ups, push-ups, handgrip strength, hip flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness) as well as measures of motor skill performance (kicking, throwing, jumping, hopping, running, and standing from a supine position) in mid-life women (ages 45-65). Physical activity engagement was assessed using 7-day accelerometer readings and the Stanford Brief Activity Survey. Motor skill performance was assessed using scores of maximum kicking, throwing, jumping, hopping, and running speeds and maximum jumping distance. Physical fitness was assessed using scores of maximum abdominal curl-ups, push-ups, handgrip strength, hip flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Results suggest that regular participation in moderate lifestyle, walking, and vigorous physical activity are related to better performances in curl-ups, push-ups, cardiorespiratory fitness on a submaximal treadmill test, kicking, throwing, and transitioning from a supine position to standing. These data represent the feasibility of selected motor skills and physical fitness tests for mid-life women and suggest that a relationship may be present between selected motor skills and health-related physical fitness measures and physical activity.

ContributorsHouse, Hannah Elizabeth (Author) / Ainsworth, Barbara (Thesis director) / Der Ananian, Cheryl (Committee member) / Stodden, David (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)

Created2013-05

The Role of Attention in the Development of Coordination: Assessing the Effects of Attention on Fine and Gross Motor Skills in Preschool Children

Description

Previous research has shown that there is a significant relation between one’s attentional abilities and one’s motor coordination. However, little research has been done that compares attention’s effects on the two major motor skills and what that could mean for one with significant attention problems. Additionally, there has not been much research done on this topic among a population of preschool-aged children. The current study sought to explore the relation between attention and motor coordination among a sample of preschoolers. A comparison of gross motor skills and fine motor skills was also assessed in order to address any potential differing effects. A sample of twenty-six preschool children participated in an experiment consisting of completing fine motor tasks, gross motor tasks, and an attention task. Additionally, parent and teacher surveys were collected that asked both parents and teachers to report their child’s behaviors at home. It was hypothesized that attention would have a significant relation with fine motor skills because past research has found that the variable of inattention is highly correlated with weaker fine motor skills. However, the current study found that attention had a more significant relation with gross motor skills. This finding was reflected across the experiments that the children completed and across the parent/teacher surveys.

ContributorsGoldentyer, Gabriela (Author) / Amazeen, Eric (Thesis director) / Kupfer, Anne (Committee member) / Presson, Clark (Committee member) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)

Created2020-05

Examining the Relationship Between Digital and Clinical Motor Tests

Description

In this thesis, the relationship between digital and clinical motor tests will be examined. These tests will be performed on adults of older age (~66 years). Most participants are those who are concerned about developing, or already have, a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The digital test that is given and evaluated is Neurotrax. Clinical motor tasks being administered include the Purdue Pegboard, Box & Blocks, Grip Strength, and Pincer Grip. Correlations between motor skills from NeuoTrax and each clinical task were calculated and analyzed. Statistical analysis of this data was done with Excel Data Analysis Toolpak. Means and standard errors were also calculated. Results indicated that Pincer Grip Strength (N) and Color Trails (%) had strong correlations with NeuroTrax Motor Skills, with correlation coefficients of 0.562 and -0.510, respectively. These associations between the NeuroTrax Motor skills assessment and clinical motor tasks may suggest that executive function and grip strength are mostly represented as motor skill domain in digital tests. Future work should examine other motor domains such as dexterity, variability, timing, and muscular efficiency aspects of digital motor assessments.

ContributorsStellmaker, Noelle (Author) / Ofori, Edward (Thesis director) / Ringenbach, Shannon (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution & Social Change (Contributor)

Created2023-05