Changes In Motor Performance Research Articles

Motor practice related changes in the sensorimotor cortices of youth with cerebral palsy.

The altered sensorimotor cortical dynamics seen in youth with cerebral palsy appear to be tightly coupled with their motor performance errors and uncharacteristic mobility. Very few investigations have used these cortical dynamics as potential biomarkers to predict the extent of the motor performance changes that might be seen after physical therapy or in the design of new therapeutic interventions that target a youth's specific neurophysiological deficits. This cohort investigation was directed at evaluating the practice dependent changes in the sensorimotor cortical oscillations exhibited by youth with cerebral palsy as a step towards addressing this gap. We used magnetoencephalography to image the changes in the cortical oscillations before and after youth with cerebral palsy (N = 25; age = 15.2 ± 4.5 years; Gross Motor Function Classification Score Levels I-III) and neurotypical controls (N = 18; age = 14.6 ± 3.1 years) practiced a knee extension isometric target-matching task. Subsequently, structural equation modelling was used to assess the multivariate relationship between changes in beta (16-22 Hz) and gamma (66-82 Hz) oscillations and the motor performance after practice. The structural equation modelling results suggested youth with cerebral palsy who had a faster reaction time after practice tended to also have a stronger peri-movement beta oscillation in the sensorimotor cortices following practicing. The stronger beta oscillations were inferred to reflect greater certainty in the selected motor plan. The models also indicated that youth with cerebral palsy who overshot the targets less and matched the targets sooner tended to have a stronger execution-related gamma response in the sensorimotor cortices after practice. This stronger gamma response may represent improve activation of the sensorimotor neural generators and/or alterations in the GABAergic interneuron inhibitory-excitatory dynamics. These novel neurophysiological results provide a window on the potential neurological changes governing the practice-related outcomes in the context of the physical therapy.

Stimulation of central histaminergic transmission attenuates diazepam-induced motor disturbance on rota-rod and beam walking tests in mice.

Diazepam administration has been shown to influence the release of histamine in various brain areas involved in motor behavior. Therefore, the present study explored the plausible regulatory role of the central histaminergic system in diazepam-induced deficits in motor performance in mice using the rota-rod and beam walking tests. In this study, several doses of diazepam (0.5, 1, 2, and 3 mg/kg, i.p.) were assessed in mice for changes in motor performance on the rota-rod and beam walking test. In addition, the brain histamine levels were determined after diazepam administration, and the diazepam-induced motor deficits were assessed in mice, pretreated centrally (intracerebroventricular) with histaminergic agents such as histamine (0.1, 10 µg), histamine precursor (L-histidine: 0.1, 2.5 µg), histamine neuronal releaser/H 3 receptor antagonist (thioperamide: 0.5, 10 µg), H 1 and H 2 receptor agonist [2-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl) histamine (FMPH: 0.1, 6.5 µg; amthamine: 0.1, 5 µg)/antagonist (H 1 : cetirizine 0.1 µg) and (H 2 : ranitidine: 50 µg)]. Results indicate that mice treated with diazepam at doses 1, 2 mg/kg, i.p. significantly increased the brain histamine levels. Moreover, in mice pretreated with histaminergic transmission-enhancing agents, the diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced motor incoordination was significantly reversed. Contrastingly, diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.) in its subeffective dose produced significant motor deficits in mice preintracerebroventricular injected with histamine H 1 and H 2 receptor antagonists on both the employed tests. Therefore, it is postulated that endogenous histamine operates via H 1 and H 2 receptor activation to alleviate the motor-impairing effects of diazepam.

Protocol for a randomised controlled unblinded feasibility trial of HD-DRUM: a rhythmic movement training application for cognitive and motor symptoms in people with Huntington’s disease

IntroductionHuntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease causing progressive cognitive and motor decline, largely due to basal ganglia (BG) atrophy. Rhythmic training offers promise as therapy to counteract BG-regulated...

Effects of air gap eccentricity on different rotor structures for PMSM in electric vehicles

In addition to research related to static eccentricity and dynamic eccentricity examining fault and diagnostic methods in various types of motors, there are also studies conducted for motors with non-uniform air gaps similar to the condition. In these studies, improvements and changes in motor performance for such types of motors can be observed. In this study, the effects of the rotor structures determined in the study and the air gap shape, which is effective by changing the eccentricity ratio, on the motor performance of the interior permanent magnet synchronous motor designed for electric vehicle applications are examined. Besides the elliptical rotor structure, which is widely researched in dynamic eccentricity studies, these eccentric motor structures also include novel rectangular and polygonal eccentric rotor structures. Motor models with non-uniform air gap structures are designed in two dimensions and subjected to simulation and analysis studies using the finite element method. At the end of the study, along with the parameters identified for motor performance, the harmonic components of the stator current, radial air gap flux density and the output torque obtained through Fast Fourier Transform analysis have been provided.

Exploring the Real-Time Variability and Complexity of Sitting Patterns in Office Workers with Non-Specific Chronic Spinal Pain and Pain-Free Individuals.

Chronic spinal pain (CSP) is a prevalent condition, and prolonged sitting at work can contribute to it. Ergonomic factors like this can cause changes in motor variability. Variability analysis is a useful method to measure changes in motor performance over time. When performing the same task multiple times, different performance patterns can be observed. This variability is intrinsic to all biological systems and is noticeable in human movement. This study aims to examine whether changes in movement variability and complexity during real-time office work are influenced by CSP. The hypothesis is that individuals with and without pain will have different responses to office work tasks. Six office workers without pain and ten with CSP participated in this study. Participant's trunk movements were recorded during work for an entire week. Linear and nonlinear measures of trunk kinematic displacement were used to assess movement variability and complexity. A mixed ANOVA was utilized to compare changes in movement variability and complexity between the two groups. The effects indicate that pain-free participants showed more complex and less predictable trunk movements with a lower degree of structure and variability when compared to the participants suffering from CSP. The differences were particularly noticeable in fine movements.

Longitudinal changes in body composition, physiological characteristics, and motor performance of Paralympic goalball athletes

Research has yet to explore the long-term influences of physical fitness parameters on goalball and how COVID-19 affected athletes’ training program. This study evaluated the longitudinal changes in body composition (BC), postural balance (PB), maximal isometric grip force (MIGF), vertical jump (countermovement (CJ), squat jump (SJ), and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) in seven male Paralympic goalball athletes preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Six measurements were performed three times ([first] pre-lock down: January 2020, [second] post-lock down: September 2020, and [third] final follow-up: June 2021) on a variable-by-variable basis. Post hoc tests showed a significant improvement in BC at the third time point compared to the first and second time points. Concomitantly, PB and MIGF were significantly improved at the third time point compared to the first and second time points, respectively. A significant decline was observed in CJ and SJ heights at the second time point compared to the first time point whereas SJ height increased at the third time point compared to the second time point. No change was observed in CJ height at the third time point versus the second time point. There was a dramatic reduction in VO2peak at the second time point compared to the first time point. No change was observed in VO2peak occurred at the third time point versus pre and post lock down. Even with the disruption in the annual training plan due to COVID-19 pandemic, our participants maintained physical fitness levels with home-based exercises.

Assessing the Efficacy of Intermittent Intensive Physical Therapy in Pediatric Cerebral Palsy

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a prevalent neurological disorder affecting children worldwide, particularly boys, with spastic CP being the most common form. Despite its prevalence, effective rehabilitation strategies for severely disabled children with CP remain limited. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a 6-month rehabilitation program for severely disabled children with CP, utilizing alternating intense therapy sessions and rest periods, to enhance gross motor function. Methods: Employing a multiple-baseline design, the study assessed changes in motor performance using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). Visual and statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics and paired t-tests, were conducted to evaluate outcomes. Results: Participants received an average of 60 treatments over the 20-week trial, exceeding expectations. Seven out of ten children exhibited significant increases in GMFM scores, with a mean improvement of 9.2% (range 3 to 15%; p < 0.05). Importantly, all participants maintained motor function during rest periods, with a high compliance rate of 93.1% during intense therapy. Conclusion: The study highlights the potential of the proposed rehabilitation program to improve gross motor function in severely disabled children with CP. These findings provide valuable insights for developing more effective and sustainable rehabilitation strategies for this population

Remote assessment of pelvic kinematics during single leg squat using smartphone sensors: Between-day reliability and identification of acute changes in motor performance.

The biomechanical assessment of pelvic kinematics during a single leg squat (SLS) commonly relies on expensive equipment, which precludes its wider implementation in ecological settings. Smartphone sensors could represent an effective solution to objectively quantify pelvic kinematics remotely, but their measure properties need to be evaluated before advocating their use in practice. This study aimed to assess whether measures of pelvic kinematics collected remotely using smartphones during SLS are repeatable between days, and if changes in pelvic kinematics can be identified during an endurance task. Thirty-three healthy young adults were tested remotely on two different days using their own smartphones placed on the lumbosacral region. Pelvic orientation and acceleration were collected during three sets of seven SLS and an endurance task of twenty consecutive SLS. The intersession reliability was assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC2,k), Standard Error of Measurement, and Minimal Detectable Change. T-tests were used to identify pelvic kinematics changes during the endurance task and to assess between-day bias. Measures of pelvic orientation and frequency features of the acceleration signals showed good to excellent reliability (multiple ICC2,k ≥ 0.79), and a shift of the power spectrum to lower frequencies on the second day (multiple p<0.05). The endurance task resulted in larger contralateral pelvic drop and rotation (multiple p<0.05) and increased spectral entropy (multiple p<0.05). Our findings demonstrate that reliable measures of pelvic kinematics can be obtained remotely using participants' smartphones during SLS. Smartphone sensors can also identify changes in motor control, such as contralateral pelvic drop during an endurance task.

The behavioral and neural effects of parietal theta burst stimulation on the grasp network are stronger during a grasping task than at rest

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is widely used in neuroscience and clinical settings to modulate human cortical activity. The effects of TMS on neural activity depend on the excitability of specific neural populations at the time of stimulation. Accordingly, the brain state at the time of stimulation may influence the persistent effects of repetitive TMS on distal brain activity and associated behaviors. We applied intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) to a region in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) associated with grasp control to evaluate the interaction between stimulation and brain state. Across two experiments, we demonstrate the immediate responses of motor cortex activity and motor performance to state-dependent parietal stimulation. We randomly assigned 72 healthy adult participants to one of three TMS intervention groups, followed by electrophysiological measures with TMS and behavioral measures. Participants in the first group received iTBS to PPC while performing a grasping task concurrently. Participants in the second group received iTBS to PPC while in a task-free, resting state. A third group of participants received iTBS to a parietal region outside the cortical grasping network while performing a grasping task concurrently. We compared changes in motor cortical excitability and motor performance in the three stimulation groups within an hour of each intervention. We found that parietal stimulation during a behavioral manipulation that activates the cortical grasping network increased downstream motor cortical excitability and improved motor performance relative to stimulation during rest. We conclude that constraining the brain state with a behavioral task during brain stimulation has the potential to optimize plasticity induction in cortical circuit mechanisms that mediate movement processes.

A robot-aided visuomotor wrist training induces motor and proprioceptive learning that transfers to the untrained ipsilateral elbow

BackgroundLearning of a visuomotor task not only leads to changes in motor performance but also improves proprioceptive function of the trained joint/limb system. Such sensorimotor learning may show intra-joint transfer that is observable at a previously untrained degrees of freedom of the trained joint.ObjectiveHere, we examined if and to what extent such learning transfers to neighboring joints of the same limb and whether such transfer is observable in the motor as well as in the proprioceptive domain. Documenting such intra-limb transfer of sensorimotor learning holds promise for the neurorehabilitation of an impaired joint by training the neighboring joints.MethodsUsing a robotic exoskeleton, 15 healthy young adults (18–35 years) underwent a visuomotor training that required them to make continuous, increasingly precise, small amplitude wrist movements. Wrist and elbow position sense just-noticeable‐difference (JND) thresholds and spatial movement accuracy error (MAE) at wrist and elbow in an untrained pointing task were assessed before and immediately after, as well as 24 h after training.ResultsFirst, all participants showed evidence of proprioceptive and motor learning in both trained and untrained joints. The mean JND threshold decreased significantly by 30% in trained wrist (M: 1.26° to 0.88°) and by 35% in untrained elbow (M: 1.96° to 1.28°). Second, mean MAE in untrained pointing task reduced by 20% in trained wrist and the untrained elbow. Third, after 24 h the gains in proprioceptive learning persisted at both joints, while transferred motor learning gains had decayed to such extent that they were no longer significant at the group level.ConclusionOur findings document that a one-time sensorimotor training induces rapid learning gains in proprioceptive acuity and untrained sensorimotor performance at the practiced joint. Importantly, these gains transfer almost fully to the neighboring, proximal joint/limb system.

Progression events defined by home-based assessment of motor function in multiple sclerosis: protocol of a prospective study.

This study relates to emerging concepts of appropriate trial designs to evaluate effects of intervention on the accumulation of irreversible disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Major starting points of our study are the known limitations of current definitions of disability progression by rater-based clinical assessment and the high relevance of gait and balance dysfunctions in MS. The study aims to explore a novel definition of disease progression using repeated instrumental assessment of relevant motor functions performed by patients in their home setting. The study is a prospective single-center observational cohort study with the primary outcome acquired by participants themselves, a home-based assessment of motor functions based on an RGB-Depth (RGB-D) camera, a camera that provides both depth (D) and color (RGB) data. Participants are instructed to perform and record a set of simple motor tasks twice a day over a one-week period every 6 months. Assessments are complemented by a set of questionnaires. Annual research grade assessments are acquired at dedicated study visits and include clinical ratings as well as structural imaging (MRI and optical coherence tomography). In addition, clinical data from routine visits is provided semiannually by treating neurologists. The observation period is 24 months for the primary endpoint with an additional clinical assessment at 27 month to confirm progression defined by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Secondary analyses aim to explore the time course of changes in motor parameters and performance of the novel definition against different alternative definitions of progression in MS. The study was registered at Deutsches Register für Klinische Studien (DRKS00027042). The study design presented here investigates disease progression defined by marker-less home-based assessment of motor functions against 3-month confirmed disease progression (3 m-CDP) defined by the EDSS. The technical approach was chosen due to previous experience in lab-based settings. The observation time per participant of 24, respectively, 27 months is commonly conceived as the lower limit needed to study disability progression. Defining a valid digital motor outcome for disease progression in MS may help to reduce observation times in clinical trials and add confidence to the detection of progression events in MS.

Effect of rTMS at SMA on task-based connectivity in PD

BackgroundTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can aid in alleviating clinical symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). To better understand the neural mechanism of the intervention, neuroimaging modalities have been used to assess the effects of rTMS. ObjectiveTo study the changes in cortical connectivity and motor performance with rTMS at supplementary motor area (SMA) in PD using clinical assessment tools and task-based functional MRI. Methodology3000 pulses at 5 Hz TMS were delivered at the left SMA once a week for a total of 8 consecutive weeks in 4 sham sessions (week 1–4) and 4 real sessions (week 5 to week 8) in 16 subjects with PD. The outcomes were assessed with UPDRS, PDQ 39 and task-based fMRI at baseline, after sham sessions at week 4, and after real sessions at week 8. Visuo-spatial functional MRI task along with T1 weighted scans (at 3 Tesla) were used to evaluate the effects of rTMS intervention. Multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) was used to analyse task-based fMRI using Conn toolbox. ResultsImprovements (p < 0.05) were observed in UPDRS II, III, Mobility and ADL of PDQ39 after real sessions of rTMS. MVPA of task-based connectivity revealed clusters of activation in right hemispheric precentral area, superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, thalamus and cerebellum (cluster threshold pFDR=0.001). ConclusionsWeekly rTMS sessions at SMA incurred clinical motor benefits as revealed by an improvement in clinical scales and dexterity performance. These benefits could be attributed to changes in connectivity remote brain regions in the motor network.

Balance beam crossing times are slower after noise exposure in rats.

The vestibular system integrates signals related to vision, head position, gravity, motion, and body position to provide stability during motion through the environment. Disruption in any of these systems can reduce agility and lead to changes in ability to safely navigate one's environment. Causes of vestibular decline are diverse; however, excessive noise exposure can lead to otolith organ dysfunction. Specifically, 120 decibel (dB) sound pressure level (SPL) 1.5 kHz-centered 3-octave band noise (1.5 kHz 3OBN) causes peripheral vestibular dysfunction in rats, measured by vestibular short-latency evoked potential (VsEP) and reduced calretinin-immunolabeling of calyx-only afferent terminals in the striolar region of the saccule. The present study examined the functional impact of this noise exposure condition, examining changes in motor performance after noise exposure with a balance beam crossing task. Balance beam crossing time in rats was assessed for 19 weeks before and 5 weeks after noise exposure. Balance beam crossings were scored to assess proficiency in the task. When animals were proficient, they received a single exposure to 120 dB SPL 3-octave band noise. During the initial training phase slower crossing times and higher scores, including multiple failures were observed. This was followed by a period of significant improvement leading to proficiency, characterized by fast and stable crossing times and consistently low scores. After noise exposure, crossing times were significantly elevated from baseline for 4-weeks. A total of 5 weeks after noise exposure, crossing times improved, and though still trending higher than baseline, they were no longer significantly different from baseline. These findings show that the noise-induced peripheral vestibular changes we previously observed at cellular and electro-physiological levels also have an impact at a functional level. It has been previously shown that imbalance is associated with slower walking speed in older adults and aged rats. These findings in noise-exposed rats may have implications for people who experience noisy environments and for seniors with a history of noise exposure who also experience balance disorders and may be at increased fall risk.

Age-related physical and performance changes in young swimmers: The comparison of predictive models in 50-meter swimming performance

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to investigate the age-related anthropometric and motor performance changes over time and their contributions to swimming style-specific performance in young different chronological age swimmers. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on a total of forty swimmers who were divided into 2 groups. The Anthropometric meas-urements were executed from 12 body parts, and body composition analysis was determined by using the skinfold method. The motor performance tests were performed for the assessment of standing horizontal jump, handgrip strength, flexed-arm hang strength, sit-up, flexibility, aerobic endurance, speed, agility, and balance. Simple Linear Regression analysis was performed to build the models for each of the swimming styles. Results: All the models indicated that aerobic endur-ance was a significantly predictive variable on all swimming styles (p &lt; 0.001). The results indicated that the anthropometric and motor performance predictors changed depending upon the age pro-gression in each swimming style (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: The effect of many variables on swimming performance is seen to be more evident in the following periods based on the increase of age. Aerobic endurance is a common variable that shows effectiveness on swimming performance for both all age groups and swimming styles.

Average power and burst analysis revealed complementary information on drug-related changes of motor performance in Parkinson’s disease

In patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), suppression of beta and increase in gamma oscillations in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) have been associated with both levodopa treatment and motor functions. Recent results suggest that modulation of the temporal dynamics of theses oscillations (bursting activity) might contain more information about pathological states and behaviour than their average power. Here we directly compared the information provided by power and burst analyses about the drug-related changes in STN activities and their impact on motor performance within PD patients. STN local field potential (LFP) signals were recorded from externalized patients performing self-paced movements ON and OFF levodopa. When normalised across medication states, both power and burst analyses showed an increase in low-beta oscillations in the dopamine-depleted state during rest. When normalised within-medication state, both analyses revealed that levodopa increased movement-related modulation in the alpha and low-gamma bands, with higher gamma activity around movement predicting faster reaches. Finally, burst analyses helped to reveal opposite drug-related changes in low- and high-beta frequency bands, and identified additional within-patient relationships between high-beta bursting and movement performance. Our findings suggest that although power and burst analyses share a lot in common they also provide complementary information on how STN-LFP activity is associated with motor performance, and how levodopa treatment may modify these relationships in a way that helps explain drug-related changes in motor performance. Different ways of normalisation in the power analysis can reveal different information. Similarly, the burst analysis is sensitive to how the threshold is defined – either for separate medication conditions separately, or across pooled conditions. In addition, the burst interpretation has far-reaching implications about the nature of neural oscillations – whether the oscillations happen as isolated burst-events or are they sustained phenomena with dynamic amplitude variations? This can be different for different frequency bands, and different for different medication states even for the same frequency band.

Correlation between cognitive tests with scales, vestibular exam and questionnaires for dizziness in the elderly

AbstractBackgroundThe vestibular system interacts with various cognitive functions, including spatial navigation processes, spatial perception, body representation, mental images, attention, memory, risk perception and social cognition. Studies inform that cognitive impairment is an important risk factor for changes in motor performance and body balance.MethodCross‐sectional, observational and analytical study. The sample consisted of 38 elderly people with vestibular dysfunction confirmed by cervical and ocular VEMP exams and/or Video Head Impulse Test (v‐HIT). The procedures of this research were approved by the Ethics Committee of the University under the number CAAE 49714221.0.0000.5149. All participants signed the Informed Consent Form (FICF). Cognitive tests were applied in a room with the patient seated. Paper and pencil were used and all cognitive tests, scales and vestibular exams were performed by the same trained researcher. Analysis using the SPSS program ‐ version 22.0. The distribution of variables was verified using the Kolmogorov‐Smirnov test. Correlation analysis was performed using the Pearson test. We adopted a significance level of 5% (p&lt;0.05).ResultA positive correlation was found between the MMSE with the gain of the left semicircular canal and negative with the asymmetry of the lateral canals. The Frontal Assessment Battery was negatively correlated with the VAS and positively correlated with the left semicircular canal. The Pfeffer questionnaire showed a positive correlation with the VAS, DHI and its functional and emotional subscales, in addition to a negative correlation with the Berg balance scale. The geriatric depression scale correlated negatively with the VAS and the Berg balance scale and positively correlated with the total DHI and its functional and emotional subscales.ConclusionIn this study, cognitive aspects, depressive symptoms and functionality were correlated with decreased gain of the left semicircular canal, greater asymmetry of the lateral canals, higher scores on the visual analogue scale, greater impact of dizziness on quality of life and greater risk of falls.

Magnetoencephalographic neurofeedback training decreases β-low-γ phase-amplitude coupling of the motor cortex of healthy adults: a double-blinded randomized crossover feasibility study

Objective. The coupling between the beta (13–30 Hz) phase and low gamma (50–100 Hz) amplitude in the motor cortex is thought to regulate motor performance. Abnormal phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) of beta-low gamma (β-low-γ PAC) is associated with motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. However, the causal relationship between β-low-γ PAC and motor performance in healthy subjects is unknown. We hypothesized that healthy subjects could change the strength of the β-low-γ PAC in the resting state by neurofeedback training (NFT) to control the β-low-γ PAC, such that the motor performance changes in accordance with the changes in β-low-γ PAC in the resting state. Approach. We developed an NFT to control the strength of the β-low-γ PAC in the motor cortex, which was evaluated by magnetoencephalography (MEG) using a current source estimation technique. Twenty subjects were enrolled in a double-blind randomized crossover trial to test the feasibility of the MEG NFT. In the NFT for 2 d, the subjects were instructed to reduce the size of a black circle whose radius was proportional (down-training) or inversely proportional (up-training) to the strength of the β-low-γ PAC. The reaction times (RTs) to press a button according to some cues were evaluated before and after training. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03837548) and UMIN-CTR (UMIN000032937). Main results. The β-low-γ PAC during the resting state was significantly decreased after down-training, although not significantly after up-training. RTs tended to decrease after both trainings, however the differences were not statistically significant. There was no significant correlation between the changes in β-low-γ PAC during rest and RTs. Significance. The proposed MEG NFT was demonstrated to change the β-low-γ PAC of the motor cortex in healthy subjects. However, a relationship between PAC and RT has not yet been demonstrated.

Combined multidisciplinary in/outpatient rehabilitation delays definite nursing home admission in advanced Parkinson's disease patients.

Advanced Parkinson's disease (aPD) patients have a high risk on definite nursing home admission. We analyzed the effectiveness of an in-and outpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation, focusing on activities of daily living (ADL) and delaying definite nursing home admission. This study included 24 aPD patients, who received a 6-week inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation program, including optimization of pharmacotherapy, which was followed by an individualized outpatient support program during 2 years (intervention group). A non-randomized matched control group (n = 19), received care as usual. Primary endpoints consisted of the Amsterdam Linear Disability Scale (ALDS) and percentage of patients being able to live independently at home after 2 years. Secondary endpoints included changes in medication (LEDD), motor performance (SCOPA-SPES), cognition (SCOPA-COG), hallucinations (NPI) and depression (BDI). Overall, 83% of patients were able to return home after the 6-week inpatient intervention, and 65% still lived at home at 2 years follow-up. Median ALDS scores after 2 years in the intervention group were significantly better, compared to the control group (p = 0.002). All secondary endpoints had improved significantly vs. baseline directly after the 6-week inpatient rehabilitation, which had disappeared at 2 years follow-up, with the exception of the daily dose of medication, which was significantly higher in the intervention group. This 2-year follow-up study showed that a combined multidisciplinary in/outpatient rehabilitation program for aPD patients, was able to stabilize ADL functions, and finally delayed definite nursing home admissions in 65% of treated patients. filenumber M10.091051; ABR code NL32699.042.10.

Strength training as a dynamical model of motor learning

ABSTRACT This paper outlines a framework for strength training as a dynamical model of perceptual-motor learning. We show, with emphasis on fixed-point attractor dynamics, that strength training can be mapped to the general dynamical principles of motor learning that arise from the constraints on action, including the distribution of practice/training. The time scales of the respective dynamics of performance change (increment and decrement) in discrete strength training and motor learning tasks reveal superposition of exponential functions in fixed-point dynamics, but distinctive attractor and parameter dynamics in oscillatory limit cycle and more continuous tasks, together with unique timescales to process influences (including practice, learning, strength, fitness, fatigue, warm-up decrement). Increments and decrements of strength can be viewed within a dynamical model of change in motor performance that reflects the integration of practice and training processes at multiple levels of learning and skill development.

Secular change in selected motor performance parameters and BMI in Swiss primary school children from 2014-2021: The Sportcheck+ study

ABSTRACT It is important to monitor secular trends in children’s motor performance, as healthy and physically active children are more likely to become healthy and physically active adults. However, studies with regular and standardized monitoring of motor performance in childhood are scarce. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on secular trends is unknown. This study describes secular changes in balancing backwards, jumping sidewards, 20-m sprint, 20-m Shuttle Run Test (SRT) and anthropometric data in 10’953 Swiss first graders from 2014 to 2021. Multilevel mixed-effects models were used to estimate secular trends for boys vs. girls, lean vs. overweight and fit vs. unfit children. The potential influence of COVID-19 was also analysed. Balance performance decreased (2.8% per year), whereas we found improvements for jumping (1.3% per year) and BMI (−0.7% per year). 20-m SRT performance increased by 0.6% per year in unfit children. Children affected by COVID-19 measures had an increased BMI and were more overweight and obese, but motor performance was mostly higher. In our sample, secular changes in motor performance show promising tendencies from 2014 to 2021. The effects of COVID-19 mitigation measures on BMI, overweight and obesity should be monitored in additional birth cohorts and follow-up studies.