Search Results (11)

The purpose was to characterize and compare biomechanical and coordinative parameters at maximum velocity between swimmers with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities and examine these in relation to their anthropometrics. Nine swimmers (four with Down syndrome and five with intellectual disabilities) performed three bouts of 25 m crawl stroke, each at maximum velocity, which were recorded with the Qualysis motion analysis system. Anthropometric variables, BMI, and percentage of body fat were also assessed. Swimmers with Down syndrome presented a smaller height, acromion height, sitting height, arm span, hand length, hand width, foot length, foot width, and velocity than swimmers with intellectual disabilities. Swimmers with Down syndrome have disadvantageous anthropometrics and slower swimming velocities compared to swimmers with intellectual disabilities. Those swimmers also appear to present distinctive coordination (catch-up for Down syndrome and superposition for intellectual disabilities) and intracyclic velocity variation (Down syndrome presented higher values) compared to swimmers with intellectual disabilities, suggesting a lower swimming efficiency. Full article

Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are crucial to treating endocrine-related malignancies, including advanced thyroid cancers and neuroendocrine tumors, but their benefit is tempered by cutaneous adverse events (CAEs) that impair adherence and quality of life. Objective: To summarize the dermatologic toxicities of TKIs used in endocrine oncology and provide practical, multidisciplinary guidance for prevention and management. Methods: Narrative synthesis of clinical trial reports, post-marketing studies, and specialty guidelines pertinent to lenvatinib, vandetanib, cabozantinib, and other commonly used TKIs, integrating dermatologic and endocrine perspectives on mechanisms and care pathways. Results: VEGFR-targeted TKIs frequently cause hand–foot skin reaction, xerosis, fissuring, paronychia, and impaired wound healing; multikinase inhibition also produces alopecia, pigmentary changes, and mucositis. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and rearranged during transfection (RET) inhibition with vandetanib is associated with acneiform eruption, photosensitivity, and nail fragility. Pathogenesis reflects on-target inhibition of VEGF/EGFR signaling leading to keratinocyte dysfunction, vascular fragility, and altered eccrine mechanics. Early risk stratification, patient education, and bundle-based prophylaxis (emollients, keratolytics, urea-based creams, sun protection) reduce incidence and severity. Grade-based algorithms combining topical corticosteroids/antibiotics, dose interruptions or reductions, and short systemic courses (e.g., doxycycline, antihistamines) enable symptom control while maintaining anticancer intensity. Close coordination around procedures minimizes wound-healing complications. Conclusions: Dermatologic toxicities are predictable, mechanism-linked, and manageable with proactive, multidisciplinary care. Standardized prevention and treatment pathways tailored to specific TKIs—particularly lenvatinib, vandetanib, and cabozantinib—can preserve dose intensity, optimize quality of life, and sustain antineoplastic efficacy. Full article

Purpose: To quantify real-time hand–foot coupling in tennis and test whether the coupling pattern differs by playing standard. Methods: Fifteen nationally certified second-level male athletes and fifteen recreational beginners performed multi-directional swings, alternating forehand–backhand groundstrokes and serve-and-volley sequences while tri-axial ankle acceleration and racket-grip force were synchronously recorded in wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs). Grip metrics (mean force, peak force, force duration) and acceleration magnitudes were analysed with MANOVA and Hedges’ g effect sizes, followed by the Benjamini–Hochberg correction (α = 0.025). Results: Across tasks, athletes showed higher mean ankle acceleration (standardised mean difference, Hedges’ g) but 45% lower mean grip force (Hedges’ g = −1.28; both p < 0.01). The association between acceleration and grip metrics was moderate-to-strong and negative in athletes (r = −0.62 with mean grip force; r = −0.69 with force duration), whereas beginners exhibited moderate-to-strong positive correlations (r = 0.48–0.73). Conclusion: We quantified hand–foot coordination in tennis by synchronising tri-axial ankle acceleration with calibrated racket-grip force across three match-realistic tasks. Relative to beginners, athletes demonstrated an inverse coupling between ankle acceleration and grip-force metrics, whereas beginners showed a direct coupling, consistent with our purpose of quantifying coordination via synchronised wearable sensors. Full article

Background: Motor coordination is a fundamental skill in childhood. Factors such as age, sex, and regular sports practice influence its development. However, there is little research that jointly analyzes the impact of these factors on the motor skills and abilities of primary school children. The objective of this study was to analyze what happens to different motor skills and abilities (i.e., locomotor coordination (LC); visuomotor coordination (VC); foot object control coordination (FOCC); hand object control coordination (HOCC); global motor coordination (GMC)) in relation to regular and regulated sports practice (yes vs. no), sex (boys vs. girls), and age (6 to 11 years) in a sample of 663 primary schoolchildren (8.59 ± 1.65 years; 48.26% boys) from Galicia (Spain). Methods: The 3JS test was used to analyze motor coordination. To determine differences between the 3JS variables, a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was performed based on age, sex, and sports practice, including a BMI category (normal weight, overweight, or obese) as a covariate to avoid potential confounding factors. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed based on age [LC (p < 0.001); VC (p < 0.001); FOCC (p < 0.001); HOCC (p < 0.001); CMG (p < 0.001)], sex [i.e., VC (p < 0.001); FOCC (p < 0.001); HOCC (p < 0.001); CMG (p < 0.001)], and sports practice [i.e., LC (p < 0.001); VC (p = 0.008); HOCC (p < 0.001); CMG (p < 0.001)], after the application of the 3JS battery. Conclusions: Locomotor coordination in Primary Education is modulated by the interaction between age, sex, and sports practice. All of these variables increase with age, with higher scores in boys than in girls, and higher scores in children who participate in sports than in those who do not. Full article

Background/Objectives: A large percentage of schoolchildren are children with overweight or obese, and weight gain over time increases the risk of poor health later in life. Motor coordination may be a protective factor, enabling young people to participate in healthy physical activities. However, it is unknown when the relationship between motor coordination and weight first emerges, nor whether it is evident across the body mass index (BMI) spectrum. The aim of this study was to explore what happens with coordination skills [i.e., locomotor coordination (LC), visuomotor coordination (VC), foot object control coordination (FOCC), hand object control coordination (HOCC), global motor coordination (GMC)] applying the 3JS battery, according to age (6 to 11 years) and BMI (normal weight, overweight or obesity) in a sample of 688 Primary Education participants (8.71 ± 1.66 years; 48.8% boys) from Galicia (Spain). Methods: To analyze the differences in the variables of the 3JS battery between age (6–11 years) and BMI (normal weight vs. overweight vs. obesity), they were evaluated using a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), introducing the sex category (boy-girl) as a covariate to avoid possible confounding factors. Results: After the application of the 3JS Battery, statistically significant differences were observed depending on age [LC (p < 0.001); VC (p < 0.001); FOCC (p < 0.001); HOCC (p < 0.001); GMC (p < 0.001)] and BMI [LC (p < 0.001); VC (p = 0.008); HOCC (p < 0.001); GMC (p < 0.001)]. No statistically significant differences were found in the interactions between age and BMI (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Locomotor coordination increases progressively with age, both globally and in each of the manifestations, and this is greater the older the schoolchildren are. Schoolchildren with normal weight compared to schoolchildren with overweight or obesity have better global motor coordination, locomotor coordination, global control of objects, and control with the hand. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of relative age on gross motor coordination (GMC) development, taking into account biological maturity and sex. Methods: 729 participants aged 10 to 16 years completed three GMC tests newly designed to minimize the potentially confounding effects of physical fitness. The tests included a Hand-Foot coordination test, Dribbling-Targeting test (DT test), and a T balance and agility test (T test). Relative age was determined using birth quartiles: BQ₁ (January–March); BQ₂ (April–June); BQ₃ (July–September); and BQ₄ (October–December). Regarding biological maturity, the participants were categorized according to their estimated peak height velocity (pre- and post-PHV). Results: Relative age did not significantly impact the overall GMC score. In contrast, biological maturity emerged as a significant determinant of GMC, with post-PHV participants outperforming their pre-PHV counterparts in the three tests (p < 0.001). The results also showed a significant main effect of sex in the DT and T tests, i.e., in tasks involving dynamic coordination and agility, with boys consistently outperforming girls (p < 0.001). Significant biological maturity × sex interactions in the DT and T tests also indicated an advantage of boys over girls with advancing biological maturity (p < 0.05). Conclusions: these findings highlight the importance of considering biological maturity and sex rather than relative age in GMC development from childhood through adolescence. Full article

Background: The harmonious development of gross motor skills (GMSs) is vital for children, fostering their physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional growth. This study aimed to achieve three primary objectives: (1) to establish standardized reference values for all GMS tests conducted; (2) to examine the impact of overweight and obesity on factors influencing the development of GMSs and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF); and (3) to investigate the relationship between GMSs and CRF levels and body image dissatisfaction among Canadian children from the province of Québec. Methods: The study encompassed 3144 children aged 6 to 12 years (1535 boys and 1609 girls) recruited from 24 elementary schools situated in five urban areas. Anthropometric measurements included body mass, body height, and body mass index (BMI). Physical performance was assessed using a maximal aerobic power test and 12 GMS tests, which comprised two segmental speed tests, four agility tests, two static balance tests, one simple reaction time test, and three coordination tests. Body perception and body image dissatisfaction were evaluated using a silhouette scale featuring two sets of nine drawings depicting a spectrum of body shapes ranging from very thin to obese. Results: Standardized normative values were established for each GMS test. GMSs demonstrated continuous improvement throughout childhood, albeit with a deceleration in progress during later developmental stages. At comparable age, boys generally outperformed girls on tests demanding greater strength, speed, or endurance, whereas girls exhibited superior performance in balance and hand–foot coordination tasks (p ≤ 0.05). However, segmental speed remained equivalent between sexes (p > 0.05). GMS and CRF were significantly influenced by obesity status. Children with a normal BMI demonstrated superior performance compared to their overweight or obese counterparts, particularly in tests requiring body mass displacement (p ≤ 0.05). Conversely, socioeconomic status exhibited no significant impact on body perception in boys (p = 0.106), but it was a notable factor among 6–8-year-old girls from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (p = 0.045). Conclusions: Obesity status is linked to diminished GMS performance, especially in tasks involving body mass movement. These findings underscore the importance of early intervention strategies to encourage an active lifestyle and promote a healthy body composition in children. Full article

Behavioural asymmetries displayed by individuals, such as hand preference and foot preference, tend to be lateralized in the same direction (left or right). This may be because their co-ordination conveys functional benefits for a variety of motor behaviours. To explore the potential functional relationship between key motor asymmetries, we examined whether footedness, handedness, or throwing arm was the strongest predictor of eyedness. Behavioural asymmetries were measured by self-report in 578 left-handed and 612 right-handed individuals. Cluster analysis of the asymmetries revealed four handedness groups: consistent right-handers, left-eyed right-handers, consistent left-handers, and inconsistent left-handers (who were left-handed but right-lateralized for footedness, throwing and eyedness). Supervised machine learning models showed the importance of footedness, in addition to handedness, in determining eyedness. In right-handers, handedness was the best predictor of eyedness, followed closely by footedness, and for left-handers it was footedness. Overall, predictors were more informative in predicting eyedness for individuals with consistent lateral preferences. Implications of the findings in relation to the origins and genetics of handedness and sports training are discussed. Findings are related to fighting theories of handedness and to bipedalism, which evolved after manual dexterity, and which may have led to some humans being right-lateralized for ballistic movements and left-lateralized for hand dexterity. Full article

Spinal manipulation (SM) is a common manual therapy technique; however, there is limited knowledge regarding the coordination of hand and foot forces during SM. This study investigated the biomechanics of force transmission and generation in the hands and feet of a single therapist who performed pelvic SM on 45 healthy subjects. Two force plates were used to measure the ground reaction forces (GRF) from the feet, and one controller was used to measure the contact hand forces (CHF). The results showed that foot force preceded hand force and that the foot and hand exhibited opposing patterns of force variation. The CHF peak was positively correlated with the CH preload maximum and minimum forces and negatively correlated with the GRF run-down. These findings suggested that the therapist used a coordinated strategy of avoiding weight support with the feet and supporting the weight with the hands to amplify the thrust force. This study provides new insights into the biomechanics of SM and has implications for teaching, motor learning, and safety. Full article

(1) Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic progressive neurological disorder which affects the central nervous system (CNS), can result in disorders of all the functions controlled by the CNS: motor, sensory, cognitive and emotional. Physical therapy (PT), conducted through proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques, can be customized to the individual patient’s needs and has the potential to improve the patient’s evolution. This study aims to establish if PT based on PNF techniques has a beneficial role in MS treatment. (2) Methods: We performed a prospective study on 40 patients who were diagnosed with MS and previously treated only with MS drug treatment (DT). These patients have participated in a PT program throughout one year. At the beginning and at the end of our study, after one year, we have assessed the following parameters: timed walk for 25 feet (Timed 25-Foot Walk test- T25FW test), dexterity of the upper limbs (9-Hole Peg Test—9HPT), disability level (Expanded Disability Status Scale—EDSS) and cognitive function (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test—PASAT. (3) Results: In subjects in the early stages of MS, lower limb mobility improved significantly, T25FW decreasing from 6.46 to 5.80 (p < 0.001) and upper limb ability increased significantly in the dominant hand, 9HPT decreasing from 17.73 to 16.97 (p = 0.006) and not significantly in the non-dominant hand, 9HPT decreasing from 17.73 to 17.50 (p = 0.255). Furthermore, among these subjects, cognitive performance improved; their PASAT increased from 52.14 to 54.14 (p = 0.036), while the level of disability of these subjects improved only slightly, the EDSS scale evolving from 3.08 to 2.91 (p = 0.650). (4) Conclusions: In patients with early forms of MS, combining DT with a PT program based on PNF techniques results in: regaining muscle strength in the lower limbs, improving coordination while walking, correcting dexterity in the upper limbs and increasing the ability to concentrate. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of a manipulative eye–segmental (hand and foot) coordination task, namely the Wall Drop Punt Kick and Catch test (WDPK&C), over two weeks. Forty-one children and adolescents (18 boys, 23 girls) with a mean age of 10.2 (SD = 1.62) years old were recruited for assessment. Subjects had 30 s to perform as many ball impacts as possible on a wall two meters away, following a drop punt kick, rebound on the wall, and catch sequence. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC = 0.896) for unique measures, Cronbach Alpha (α = 0.945), and Lin’s Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC = 0.896) provide evidence of reliability considering two consecutive measurements. These results further support the reliability of the WDPK&C test in a sample of Portuguese children and adolescents. Thus, the WDPK&C test can be applied to Portuguese boy and girl children and adolescents. Forthcoming studies should test the reliability of this test across different age groups since it is intended to be a test with a wide lifespan coverage. Full article