Suchergebnisse

AbstractAimsTo evaluate the effect of visual pedagogy‐guided toothbrushing training on oral hygiene, toothbrushing ability, and fine motor skills in individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and impaired fine motor skills.MethodsThis quasi‐experimental study comprised 37 subjects aged 6–24 years. The plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), toothbrushing ability, and fine motor skills were evaluated before and after 3 and 6 months of individual visual pedagogy‐guided toothbrushing training. Friedman's post hoc test and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used for statistical analyses.ResultsThe PI, GI, toothbrushing ability, and fine motor skills of the 23 subjects who remained in the study at the 6‐month follow‐up period significantly improved from those measured at baseline (p < 0.05). A significant association was observed between the improvements in both toothbrushing ability and fine motor skills (p < 0.05).ConclusionsVisual pedagogy‐guided toothbrushing training could improve the oral hygiene and toothbrushing ability of individuals with ID and impaired fine motor skills. Moreover, improvements in the toothbrushing ability could enhance the fine motor skills of these individuals.

We analyzed the psychophysiological response and specific fine motor skill of an experienced jumper in HALO (high altitude low opening) and HAHO (high altitude high opening) parachute jumps. Eight HALO and eight HAHO jumpers were analyzed. They jumped at 5500 m, HALO jumpers opened the parachute at 500 m and HAHO jumpers at 4300 m of altitude. Before and after the jumps, parameters of muscle strength, cortical arousal, blood creatine kinase (CK) and glucose, blood oxygen saturation, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and specific fine motor skills of an experienced jumper were assessed; during the jump, heart rate (HR), HR variability, and speed were evaluated. HALO and HAHO jumps produced a significant increase in CK, lactate, and RPE, and a decrease in glucose. HAHO decreased cortical arousal, presented a higher sympathetic modulation, and a higher HR during the jump than HALO. HALO and HAHO produced an increase in the physiological, sympathetic modulation and muscle destruction, and a decrease in cortical arousal and a higher blood lactate concentration only in the HAHO jump. Also, somatic and cognitive anxiety correlated with higher strength manifestation and muscle destruction. This novel research could be used to improve actual training systems in both civil and military parachute jumpers.

Soldiers´ training and experience can influence the outcome of the missions, as well as their own physical integrity. The objective of this research was to analyze the psycho-physiological response and specific motor skills in an urban combat simulation with two units of infantry with different training and experience. Material and Methods: psychophysiological parameters –Heart Rate, blood oxygen saturation, glucose and blood lactate, cortical activation, anxiety and heart rate variability-, as well as fine motor skills were analyzed in 31 male soldiers of the Spanish Army, 19 belonging to the Light Infantry Brigade, and 12 to the Heavy Forces Infantry Brigade, before and after an urban combat simulation. Results and Conclusion: A combat simulation provokes an alteration of the psycho-physiological basal state in soldiers and a great unbalance in the sympathetic-vagal interaction. The specific training of Light Infantry unit involves lower metabolic, cardiovascular, and anxiogenic response not only previous, but mainly after a combat maneuver, than Heavy Infantry unit's. No differences were found in relation with fine motor skills, improving in both cases after the maneuver. This fact should be taken into account for betterment units´ deployment preparation in current theaters of operations.

AbstractFinger counting is widely considered an important step in children's early mathematical development. Presumably, children's ability to move their fingers during early counting experiences to aid number representation depends in part on their early fine motor skills (FMS). Specifically, FMS should link to children's procedural counting skills through consistent repetition of finger‐counting procedures. Accordingly, we hypothesized that (a) FMS are linked to early counting skills, and (b) greater FMS relate to conceptual counting knowledge (e.g., cardinality, abstraction, order irrelevance) via procedural counting skills (i.e., one–one correspondence and correctness of verbal counting). Preschool children (N = 177) were administered measures of procedural counting skills, conceptual counting knowledge, FMS, and general cognitive skills along with parent questionnaires on home mathematics and fine motor environment. FMS correlated with procedural counting skills and conceptual counting knowledge after controlling for cognitive skills, chronological age, home mathematics and FMS environments. Moreover, the relationship between FMS and conceptual counting knowledge was mediated by procedural counting skills. Findings suggest that FMS play a role in early counting and therewith conceptual counting knowledge.

AbstractWe investigated whether fine motor and expressive language skills are related in the later‐born siblings of children with autism (heightened‐risk, HR infants) who are at increased risk for language delays. We observed 34 HR infants longitudinally from 12 to 36 months. We used parent report and standardized observation measures to assess fine motor skill from 12 to 24 months in HR infants (Study 1) and its relation to later expressive vocabulary at 36 months in HR infants (Study 2). In Study 1, we also included 25 infants without a family history of autism to serve as a normative comparison group for a parent‐report fine motor measure. We found that HR infants exhibited fine motor delays between 12 and 24 months and expressive vocabulary delays at 36 months. Further, fine motor skill significantly predicted expressive language at 36 months. Fine motor and expressive language skills are related early in development in HR infants, who, as a group, exhibit risk for delays in both. Our findings highlight the importance of considering fine motor skill in children at risk for language impairments and may have implications for early identification of expressive language difficulties.

Objective Assess the effects of long-duration microgravity and gravitational transitions on fine motor skills using a tablet-based test battery of four fine motor tasks: Pointing, Dragging, Shape Tracing, and Pinch-Rotate. Background While there have been some studies on fine motor skills in microgravity, few have measured the fine motor skills that are core components of interaction with computer-based devices, and none have measured performance systematically, to include preflight, inflight, and postflight space mission time periods. Methods Seven astronauts completed the Fine Motor Skills test battery 30–40 times before, during, and up to 30 days after standard duration International Space Station missions, while a matching set of seven ground-based control participants also completed the battery over a comparable period of time. Response time and accuracy were the primary outcome measures. Results Relative to controls, astronauts experienced fine motor skill decrements at gravitational transitions (first week on orbit, and first month post landing). No decrements were found inflight after the first week of adaptation. Conclusion Gravitational transitions appear to negatively impact fine motor skills needed to operate small controls with accuracy, such as those on touchscreen interfaces. This raises concerns for future long-duration crewmembers who will land on a planetary surface and need to perform critical tasks accurately, such as configuring spacesuits, powering up a habitat, or teleoperating rovers. Application Results from this study highlight the need for confirmatory research, and the possible need for countermeasure development. The Fine Motor Skills test battery may have application outside of NASA as a fine motor skills diagnostic screening, rehabilitation, or readiness-to-perform tool.

Essential tremor (ET) is a highly prevalent neurological disorder characterized by action-induced tremors involving the hand, voice, head, and/or face. Importantly, hand tremor is present in nearly all forms of ET, resulting in impaired fine motor skills and diminished quality of life. To advance early diagnostic approaches for ET, automated handwriting tasks and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offer an opportunity to develop early essential clinical biomarkers. In this study, we present a novel approach for the early clinical diagnosis and monitoring of ET based on integrating handwriting and neuroimaging analysis. We demonstrate how the analysis of fine motor skills, as measured by an automated Archimedes' spiral task, is correlated with neuroimaging biomarkers for ET. Together, we present a novel modeling approach that can serve as a complementary and promising support tool for the clinical diagnosis of ET and a large range of tremors. ; This work was supported in part by the Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, the University of Cambridge, PPG 17/51 and GIU 092/19, the Basque government (Saiotek SA-2010/00028, ELEKIN, Engineering and Society and Bioengineering Research Groups, GIC18/136, and ELKARTEK 18/99, 20/81), ''Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación'' (SAF201677758R), FEDER funds, DomusVi Foundation (FP18/76), and the government of Gipuzkoa (HELENA, SABRINA, DG18/14-23, DG19/29, DG20/25 projects). This work is also based upon the work from COST Actions CA18106 and CA15225, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).

Soldiers´ training and experience can influence the outcome of military missions, as well as soldiers physical integrity. The aim of this research was to analyze the psychophysiological and specific fine motor skills response of elite and non-elite soldiers in a combat simulation according to current conflict deployment zones. Rates of perceived exertion, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, blood lactate, hand and leg strength, cortical arousal, anxiety, autonomic modulation and fine motor skills were analyzed in 20 Elite (EG) and 24 non-elite (NEG) soldiers of the Spanish Army, before and immediately after a close quarter combat in an asymmetrical combat maneuver. As a consequence of the maneuver, elite soldiers presented a higher metabolic, cardiovascular and anxiogenic response than non-elite soldiers, as well as an anticipatory anxiety response, showed in the increased sympathetic modulation. Non-elite soldiers improved their fine motor skills after the combat maneuver (−8.34% Vs −11.23% of change in gun reloading time of Elite Group and Non-Elite Group). Finally, experience in international-armed conflicts disposes soldiers toward better self-confidence when facing risk maneuvers (p = .001).

Visuomotor coordination is reffered to eye coordination and to various parts of the body in different activities and games. The aim of the research was to establish the influence of the exercises of gross and fine motor skills on visuomotor coordination of the cerebral palsy children. The sample was the case study where a male person of 3 and a half years old was an examinee. Measuring instrument used was the Test of visuomotor coordination of the gross motor skills of the dominant hand. Data were analyzed by t-test.

Children's development includes several aspects including aspects of motor development, cognitive, social-emotional, language, moral, religion. One of the factors that influence motor development is parenting. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between parenting parents with gross motor and fine motor development in children aged 5-6 years. This study used a quantitative non-experimental correlational type research design with a cross-sectional approach. The sample consisted of 75 respondents using a non-probability sampling technique with purposive sampling. the majority of parents applying democratic parenting, as many as 69 people (92%), most children aged 5-6 years have appropriate motor development, as many as 65 people (86.6%), most children aged 5-6 years have appropriate fine motor development, as many as 72 people (96%), there is a strong relationship between parenting parents with gross motor development in children aged 5-6 years with a correlation coefficient (r) = 0.628, there is a strong relationship between patterns foster parents with fine motor development in children aged 5-6 years with a correlation coefficient (r) = 0.672. The results of this study are expected to be used as a guide for parents who have not applied democratic parenting to their children so that the child's motor development can grow optimally.

This study investigates the influence of experience on stress responses and fine motor skills among professional male
military parachutists. We analyzed 132 paratroopers, divided into a non-experienced group (NEG; ≤6 parachute jumps) and an
experienced group (EG; >50 jumps). Baseline samples were collected 2.5 hours before participants performed a 500 m jump, with
post-jump evaluations conducted immediately after landing. Results indicated that experience significantly influences fine motor
skills and stress responses. Non-experienced jumpers showed greater degradation in fine motor skills and higher cortical arousal
pre-jump levels, suggesting an increased anticipatory state. In contrast, experienced parachutists maintained more consistent
fine motor skills and exhibited a ceiling effect in stress response. Leg strength was higher in non-experienced jumpers, reflecting
youth and greater muscle mass, with no significant difference in hand strength. These findings highlight the role of experience in
managing stress and maintaining motor skills under pressure. The study suggests further exploration into psychological aspects
like motivation and resilience, along with the long-term effects of stress exposure. The importance of experience in high-stress
military operations emphasizes the need for targeted training interventions to enhance stress-coping mechanisms in less
experienced individuals.

Abstract

Objectives
Exposure to manganese (Mn) may cause movement disorders, but less is known whether the effects persist after the termination of exposure. This study investigated the association between former exposure to Mn and fine motor deficits in elderly men from an industrial area with steel production.


Methods
Data on the occupational history and fine motor tests were obtained from the second follow-up of the prospective Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study (2011–2014). The study population included 1232 men (median age 68 years). Mn in blood (MnB) was determined in archived samples (2000–2003). The association between Mn exposure (working as welder or in other at-risk occupations, cumulative exposure to inhalable Mn, MnB) with various motor functions (errors in line tracing, steadiness, or aiming and tapping hits) was investigated with Poisson and logistic regression, adjusted for iron status and other covariates. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for substantially impaired dexterity (errors >90th percentile, tapping hits <10th percentile).


Results
The median of cumulative exposure to inhalable Mn was 58 µg m–3 years in 322 men who ever worked in at-risk occupations. Although we observed a partly better motor performance of exposed workers at group level, we found fewer tapping hits in men with cumulative Mn exposure >184.8 µg m–3 years (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.17–3.94). MnB ≥ 15 µg l–1, serum ferritin ≥ 400 µg l–1, and gamma-glutamyl transferase ≥74 U l–1 were associated with a greater number of errors in line tracing.


Conclusions
We found evidence that exposure to inhalable Mn may carry a risk for dexterity deficits. Whether these deficits can be exclusively attributed to Mn remains to be elucidated, as airborne Mn is strongly correlated with iron in metal fumes, and high ferritin was also associated with errors in line tracing. Furthermore, hand training effects must be taken into account when testing for fine motor skills.

It has been shown that children with mental disabilities have weaker basic motor skills than healthy children. The main aim of this study was to determine the effect of eight weeks of Spark training program on fine and gross motor skills of 6 to 8 year old male students with trainable mental disability. This research is of applied research and quasi-experimental research. By selecting the subjects from among the exceptional schools, 30 people were selected for the research. In the next stage, out of these 30 people, a pre-test was performed and 15 people in the Spark group and 15 people in the control group were randomly selected. The experimental group performed a training program selected by the Spark group for 24 sessions and 60 minutes in each session. During this time, the control group resumed its normal activities. The results showed that: Eight weeks of Spark training program has a significant effect on fine motor skills of 6 to 8 year old male students with trainable mental disability. The eight-week Spark training program has a significant effect on the gross motor skills of 6- to 8-year-old male students with trainable mental disabilities. Spark exercise program can have a significant positive effect on the gross and fine motor skills of mentally retarded children.