Kines 360: Intro to Motor Development (Exam 1)

Motor development

Refers to the continuous, age-related process of change in movement as well as the interacting constraints (or factors) in the individual, environment, and task that drive these changes.

Motor learning

Refers to permanent gains in motor skill capacity associated with practice or experience.

Motor control

The study of the neural, physical, and behavioral aspects of movement

Motor behavior

A term used when we are not distinguishing between motor development or learning, or when we include both.

Physical growth

Occurring from conception to late adolescence, increase in size and body mass that results in an increase in complete and developed body parts.

Physiological maturation

Qualitative advance in biological makeup allowing the individual to reproduce; may refer to cell, organ, or system in biochemical composition rather than to size alone

Aging

A process that occurs over time, leading to a loss of adaptability or full function and eventually to death.

Newell’s Model

A model helping us to better understand motor development across the lifespan, suggesting that movements arise from interactions of the organism, the environment in which the movement occurs, and the task to be undertaken. If any of these three factors change, the resultant movement changes.

Individual constraints

The physical/mental characteristics that limit, shape, or facilitate movement

Structural constraints

Constraints relating to an individual’s body structure and may change with growth and aging. Examples: weight, leg length, muscle mass

Functional constraints

Constraints relating to an individual’s behavioral function. Examples: motivation, fear experiences, attentional focus

Task constraints

Constraints acting as boundaries that dictate action, such as goals, rules, and equipment.

Environmental constraints

External, non-individual factors—comprising physical surroundings and sociocultural influences—that either facilitate or restrict movement. Examples: temperature, floor surface, gravity

Why is Newell’s model helpful in studying motor development?

• Reflects dynamic interactions

• Allows us to look at the individual

• Helps describe the influence of where the individual moves

• Identifies that changes in the individual are important

Constraint

A characteristic of the individual, environment, or task that encourages some movements while affects others

How has the view on the role of constraints changed over history?

Originally, just individual and structural constraints were considered. Then, environmental and task constraints were only considered. Currently, the Newell model is used, which considers all three.

Advanced development

Motor skills appear sooner than expected

Delayed development

Motor skills appear later than expected, often caused by later growth spurt, late development, or heritage (most common cause).

Gross motor skills

Movements that use large muscle groups (ex. walking, jumping, climbing)

Fine motor skills

Movements that use small muscle or small movements (ex. movement of the tongue, fingers, or wrists)

How can we discern developmental change?

• Careful observation of the individual’s movement

• Use cross sectional studies to describe differences between people of different age groups

• Use longitudinal studies to graphically represent an aspect of development over time.

• Look for trends in data.

Developmental trajectory

The course of a behavior over age or time

Arrested development

A failure to develop beyond a particular point of development, often due to a severely negative constraint.

Why is understanding motor development important?

• Enables diagnosis of problems in those with atypical development

  • Not showing certain reflective movements

• Understanding movement skills that become less pronounced or deficient as we age (muscle atrophy)

• Help people improve motor performance

  • Improves self-concept

• Know and learn how general and special populations develop movement skills

  • Children with disabilities

Affective domain of human development

Social/emotional aspects of development

Cognitive domain of human development

Intellectual development

Motor domain of human development

Development of human movement

Physical domain of human development

All types of bodily change