Defining Motor Skills, Movement, Coordination, and Balance
Movement Definition
Movement: A sequence of concrete actions through processes of muscle contractions and joint movements.
Motor Task Explained
Motor Task: An activity with a specific purpose performed under particular conditions for the development of a skill. Tasks generally have three parts:
- Perception
- Decision
- Implementation
There are two main types of tasks:
- Psychomotor: The motor action is performed alone.
- Sociomotor: The motor action is carried out in the presence of, or interaction with, others (e.g., adversaries, teammates).
Motor Skills as Abilities
Motor Skills (Ability): The ability gained through learning to achieve predefined objectives with maximum effectiveness and efficiency.
Motor Skills Quality
Motor Skills (Quality): Refers to the quality of the actions executed. In many areas, this is considered synonymous with motor ability.
Basic Motor Skills
Basic Motor Skills: The ability to move effectively, involving the proper handling of the body and objects.
Displacement in Movement
Displacement: Body movements that involve translating the body from one point to another in space. This movement can be generated by the body itself or by external means.
Understanding Jumps
Jump: A form of body movement entailing a departure from the base of support. The phases of a jump include:
- Momentum: Factors include acceleration (with or without a run-up), leg usage (one or both), and potential multipliers (e.g., jumping from a trampoline, Minitramp).
- Flight: Characterized by vertical height and horizontal length (e.g., forward, sideways, backward).
- Fall: Landing on one or two feet, potentially followed by continued movement (with or without continuity).
Giro (Rotation)
Giro: Body movement involving rotation around the body’s axes.
Released Actions (Throwing)
Released: A basic motor skill involving getting rid of an object or device through the action of throwing.
Reception (Catching)
Reception: A basic motor skill involving trapping or taking hold of a stationary or moving object.
Neuromotor Qualities
Neuromotor Qualities: Command and control capabilities involving the body’s muscle coordination and balance.
Agility Explained
Agility: The ability to move the body efficiently and effectively in space. It is often considered the sum of three qualities:
- Speed
- Flexibility
- Coordination
Coordination Defined
Coordination: The ability to select and activate the necessary muscles to perform a desired movement smoothly and accurately.
Understanding Balance
Balance: The ability to assume and maintain any body position against the force of gravity. The regulatory elements of balance include:
- Hearing (Vestibular system)
- Sight
- Proprioceptive organs
- Cerebellum
Static Equilibrium
Static Equilibrium: The ability to maintain the body in a fixed position against gravity without any displacement.
Dynamic Balance
Dynamic Balance: The ability to move the body stably through space, adapting to situations of instability and external conditions that influence movement.
Post-Movement Balance
Post-Movement Balance: The ability to maintain a static position immediately following a dynamic movement.
Report in Assessment
Report: The effort made by an examiner to arouse the interest of the subject, obtain their cooperation, and ensure adherence to the rules for implementing a test.
Drawing Interpretation Notes
Drawing: Depending on where a drawing is placed on the page (folio), it can be interpreted in different ways:
- Upper Third: Associated with spirituality, imagination, intellect, and being outgoing.
- Central Zone: Associated with being comfortable, settled, creative, secure, and practical (often typical for children).
- Lower Third: Associated with sadness or being introverted.
- Right Side: Associated with optimism for the future.
- Left Side: Associated with pessimism, instability, or being anchored in the past.