Lifespan Motor Development: Growth, Constraints, Theories, and Prenatal to Postnatal Changes

Growth

The quantitative increase in size or mass of the body.

Maturation

The qualitative advancements in a domain/system/organ, also includes aging.

Motor Development

The change in movement capabilities/processes due to physical development.

Motor Learning

Gains in movement capabilities due to practice or intervention, occurring quicker than motor development.

Constraint

Any factor that limits, shapes, or channels how a person moves; can be positive or negative.

Transactional View of Motor Development

Proposes three main groups of constraints: individual, task, and environmental.

Individual Constraints

Both structural and functional or mind and body.

Environmental Constraints

Includes physical and social aspects.

Task Constraints

Focus solely on the task itself.

Structural Individual Constraints

Limb length, weight, strength, balance, flexibility, and center of mass.

Functional Individual Constraints

Motivation, fear, self-beliefs, confidence, focus.

Environmental Constraints Examples

Floor surface, lighting, temperature, weather, altitude, spectators, cultural stereotypes.

Task Constraints Examples

Activity rules and modifications, dimensions of playing space, length of instruction, equipment.

Phase-Stage Theory

Motor development occurs in rigid phases driven by physical development (growth and maturation).

Dynamical Systems Theory

The body, environment, and tasks are always changing and interacting.

Perception-Action Approach

Our perceptual and motor systems interact with the environment.

Bioecological Theory

Motor development is influenced by many levels of environmental factors.

Cephalocaudal Growth

Growth from top to bottom.

Proximodistal Growth

Growth from midline outward.

Differentiation

From general to specific (cells).

Integration

From distinct/separable to coordinated/combined.

Attractor

A preferred state/movement based on individual and environmental constraints.

Affordance

The perceived function of an environment/object based on its size and shape and individual structure.

Body Scaling

Change the environment/object to complement one's structural constraints.

Embryonic Disc

A part of the embryo which develops into all organs in the body.

1st trimester

All major organs and systems are formed; zygotic, embryonic and fetal periods all within 1st trimester.

2nd trimester

Fastest velocity of growth; fetal movements begin; auditory systems detect sounds.

3rd trimester

Growth due to addition of weight; increased muscle tone, functioning immune system, eyes open and close.

Teratogens

Substances that cause abnormal fetal development, depending on when exposed to the fetus the organ systems developing in that instance are affected.

Nutrition

Determines if the child is getting the nutrients it requires to grow the human body.

Extreme internal temperature

Creates an unstable, unsafe environment for the baby.

Distance curve

Illustrates growth in height over time.

Velocity curve

Illustrates speed of growth over time.

Infancy growth rate

Decrease in change in growth rates but still growing.

Childhood growth rate

Grows slow and steady at 2 inches/year.

Adolescence growth rate

Rapid growth, ~3in/yr for females and ~4in/yr for males.

Adulthood growth rate

Growth slows and ceases, eventual decrease in stature.

PHV

Provides information related to final adult height.

Final adult height differences between genders

Girls hit PHV earlier, guys have extra years of childhood growth, and a more intense PHV.

Final adult height differences within genders

EM: hit PHV early, less childhood growth, more intense PHV, shorter adults; AM: in between; LM: hit PHV late, more childhood growth, less intense PHV, taller adults.

Body segments growth

Most growth during childhood is seen in arms and legs, adolescent growth is seen in trunk.

Movement implications for growth differences

Movement control includes coordination, balance, force production, speed, agility, and power.

Stability

A body position is one that resists movement.

Balance

The ability of an object to remain at equilibrium.

Developmental trends in balance

Attempts to improve balance by increasing stability, avoiding excessive trunk rotation or limb movement.

Sheldon's somatotyping classification system

Endomorph: short and round, 7-1-1; Mesomorph: muscular, 1-7-1; Ectomorph: lean and tall, 1-1-7.

Maturation status impact on youth sports drop-out

LM boys tend to drop out during early adolescence, while EM males may drop out toward the end of adolescence.

Fat-mass increase in females

Puberty is associated with a proportionally larger increase in fat-mass, affecting EMs in early and later adolescence/adulthood.

heirarchical integration

new skills are more advanced versions of old skills, reflex is integrated into voluntary movement

consolidation process

additive, no regression (until we get old enough)

intransitive order

no skipping stages

equilibration process

current skill and env balance = adopt new skills

horizontal declage

lay between skill emergence and dunctional application of skill, formation before function