Abstract
Upper extremity motor performance declines with increasing age. However, older adults need to maintain, learn new and relearn known motor tasks. Research with young adults indicated that regular and acute physical activity might facilitate motor performance and motor learning processes. Therefore, this review aimed to examine the association between chronic physical activity and acute bouts of exercise on motor performance and motor learning in upper extremity motor tasks in older adults. Literature was searched via Cochrane library, PubMED, PsycINFO and Scopus and 27 studies met all inclusion criteria. All studies dealt with the influence of chronic physical activity on motor performance or motor learning, no appropriate study examining the influence of an acute bout of exercise in older adults was found. Results concerning the association of chronic physical activity and motor performance are mixed and seem to be influenced by the study design, kind of exercise, motor task, and exercise intensity. Regarding motor learning, a high physical activity or cardiovascular fitness level seems to boost the initial phase of motor learning; results differ with respect to motor retention. Overall, (motor-coordinative) intervention studies seem to be more promising than cross-sectional studies.
Highlights
Upper extremity motor performance as required for grasping, reaching or holding an object, declines with increasing age, having a strong impact on older adults’ activities of daily living ([13] for a review)
Chronic physical activity and motor performance As characteristics and results of studies about chronic physical activity and motor performance differed, results of the systematic review were summarized with respect to sample characteristics, study design, types of exercise and motor tasks
Type of motor task we focused on upper extremity motor performance tasks only, tasks differ with respect to their demands during execution
Summary
Upper extremity motor performance as required for grasping, reaching or holding an object, declines with increasing age, having a strong impact on older adults’ activities of daily living ([13] for a review). Physical activity does have a positive influence on physiological health, psychological well-being, and cognitive performance [20, 26], it might improve motor performance and motor learning processes. Most research on physical activity and motor performance or learning has been done with young adults revealing heterogeneous, but promising results ([28] for a review on motor performance in children and adolescents; [78] for a general review on motor learning). This positive association might exist in older adults and might foster them to. Exercise as a subset of physical activity is characterized as planned, repetitive
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