Locomotor Activity

Studies suggest that incorporating core academic subjects into physical education (PE) stimulates the development of both motor and cognitive skills in primary school students. For example, several experiments show that children’s participation in Eduball, i.e., a method that uses educational balls with printed letters, numbers, and other signs, improves their physical fitness while simultaneously developing their mathematical and language skills. However, the question of who should conduct such classes to make them most effective (regular classroom teachers, physical education teachers, or maybe both in cooperation?) remains unanswered. Here, we replicated a previous Eduball experiment, but now, instead of one experimental group, there were three. In the first, Eduball-classes were conducted by the classroom teacher, in the second, by the physical education teacher, and in the third, collaboratively. After one year intervention, all experimental groups significantly improved both their cognitive (mathematical, reading, and writing) and gross motor (locomotor and object control) skills, and these effects were larger than in the control group participating in traditional PE. Importantly, there were no differences in progression between the Eduball-groups. Thus, our study demonstrates that methods linking PE with cognitive tasks can be effectively used by both PE specialists and general classroom teachers.

Целта на настоящото изследване е да се установи ефектът от заниманията със специален триколесен велосипед върху функцията на долните крайници на деца с церебрална парализа и сходни състояния. В проучването са включени 5 деца (3 момчета и 2 момичета, 9-18-годишна възраст). Изследваните са подбрани по два общи критерия – относителна локомоторна самостоятелност (II ниво по GMFCS) и намалена двигателна активност на долен крайник, предимно вляво. Изследването е проведено в училище СОУ за деца с нарушено зрение " Проф. д-р Иван Шишманов " , град Варна. Проучването обхваща два периода на адаптирано колоездене през месеците: май (пет 45-минутни процедури седмично в продължение на 3 седмици) и ноември (пет 45-минутни процедури на седмица за 4 седмици) с почивка между двата периода. Измерванията са извършени в началото и в края на всеки период. Децата от проучването бяха обучени в използването на адаптиран велосипед преди експеримента. Изследвания: 1. Сантиметрия – обиколки на бедрото и в най-широката част за подбедрицата. 2. Измерване на активния обем на движение (по методиката SFTR) в тазобедрена става, колянна става и глезенна става. Изводи: Адаптираното колоездене със специализиран триколесен велосипед при деца с ДЦП и сходни състояния увеличи обиколките на бедрото и подбедрицата, което смятаме за израз на работна хипертрофия на натоварваните мускули. Подобри се обемът на движение в тазобедрените, коленните и глезенните стави на тренираните деца, което осигурява по-голяма свобода на движение и по-голяма ефективност във функцията на долните крайници. Изброените промени се наблюдават както след триседмичен, така и след четириседмичен тренировъчен период със специализиран триколесен велосипед. Проведеното експериментално тренировъчно обучение със специализиран триколесен велосипед се оказа приложимо и ефективно средство за подобряване функцията на долните крайници при изследваните деца.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of activities with special tricycles on the functioning of the lower limbs of children with cerebral palsy and similar conditions. Five children were enrolled to a case group (3 males, 2 females, 9–18 years of age). The studied were selected by two general criteria - relative locomotor autonomy (level II GMFM) and reduced mobility of the lower extremities more expressed in the left side of their bodies. The survey was conducted in the School for children with impaired vision "Prof. Dr. Ivan Shishmanov" Varna, being consistent with the curriculum and the holidays of the school. The study covers two periods adapted cycling: May (five
45-minute sessions per week over 3 weeks) and November (five 45-minute sessions per week over 4 weeks) with a rest period between the two periods. Measurements were performed at the beginning and at the end of the sessions of each period. The children from the study were trained in the use of adapted bikes before the experiment. Measurements: 1. Thigh circumference at a distance of ten and fifteen centimeters from the top edge of the patella, as well as the widest part of the calf. 2. Measurement of the active range of motion (by the procedure SFTR) in hip, knee and ankle joint. Conclusions. Adapted cycling with specialized tricycles increased the circumference of the thigh and lower leg, which we consider an expression of working hypertrophy of exercised muscles in the studied children. Adapted cycling improved the active range of motion in the hip, knee and ankle joints of trained children, which provides a greater freedom of movement and a better efficiency in the functioning of the lower limbs. Improvements in muscle volume and in the active range of motion of the joints of the lower limbs were observed after three weeks and after a four-week activity period with specialized tricycles. Conducted adapted cycling courses were appropriate and effective approach for improving the function of the lower limbs in the studied children.