Decoding Motor Skills: Video Analysis Unveils Age-Specific Patterns in Childhood and Adolescent Movement

Motor skill development is crucial in human growth, evolving with the maturation of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Quantifying these skills, especially coordinative abilities, remains challenging. This study aimed to assess the performance of five motor tasks in children and adolescents us...

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Main Authors: Luca Russo, Massimiliano Micozzi, Ghazi Racil, Alin Larion, Elena Lupu, Johnny Padulo, Gian Mario Migliaccio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Children
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/11/1351
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author Luca Russo
Massimiliano Micozzi
Ghazi Racil
Alin Larion
Elena Lupu
Johnny Padulo
Gian Mario Migliaccio
author_facet Luca Russo
Massimiliano Micozzi
Ghazi Racil
Alin Larion
Elena Lupu
Johnny Padulo
Gian Mario Migliaccio
author_sort Luca Russo
collection DOAJ
description Motor skill development is crucial in human growth, evolving with the maturation of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Quantifying these skills, especially coordinative abilities, remains challenging. This study aimed to assess the performance of five motor tasks in children and adolescents using high-speed video analysis, providing data for movement and health professionals. Seventy-two volunteers were divided into three age groups: 27 first-grade primary school students (19 males and 8 females, aged 6.5 ± 0.5 years), 35 fourth-grade primary school students (16 males and 19 females, aged 9.2 ± 0.4 years), and 28 s-year middle school students (16 males and 12 females, aged 13.0 ± 0.3 years). Participants performed five motor tasks: standing long jump, running long jump, stationary ball throw, running ball throw, and sprint running. Each task was recorded at 120 frames per second and analyzed using specialized software to measure linear and angular kinematic parameters. Quantitative measurements were taken in the sagittal plane, while qualitative observations were made using a dichotomous approach. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests with Bonferroni correction. Significant differences were observed across age groups in various parameters. In the standing long jump, older participants exhibited a longer time between initial movement and maximum loading. The running long jump revealed differences in the take-off angle, with fourth-grade students performing the best. Ball-throwing tests indicated improvements in the release angle with age, particularly in females. Sprint running demonstrated the expected improvements in time and stride length with age. Gender differences were notable in fourth-grade students during the running long jump, with females showing greater knee flexion, while males achieved better take-off angles. Video analysis effectively identified age-related and gender-specific differences in motor skill performance. The main differences were measured between first-grade primary school and second-year middle school students while gender differences were limited to all age groups. This method provides valuable insights into motor development trajectories and can be used by professionals to objectively assess and monitor the technical aspects of motor skills across different age groups.
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spelling doaj-art-23f30f8074d8477ba58c5ef52354eaa22024-11-26T17:57:34ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672024-11-011111135110.3390/children11111351Decoding Motor Skills: Video Analysis Unveils Age-Specific Patterns in Childhood and Adolescent MovementLuca Russo0Massimiliano Micozzi1Ghazi Racil2Alin Larion3Elena Lupu4Johnny Padulo5Gian Mario Migliaccio6Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, 22060 Novedrate, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, Università dell’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyResearch Unit (LR 23JS01) “Sport Performance, Health & Society” Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Tunis 1000, TunisiaFaculty of Physical Education and Sports, Ovidius University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, RomaniaDepartment of Motor Activities, Petroleum Gas University Ploiesti, 100600 Ploiesti, RomaniaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Rome Open University, 00166 Rome, ItalyMotor skill development is crucial in human growth, evolving with the maturation of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Quantifying these skills, especially coordinative abilities, remains challenging. This study aimed to assess the performance of five motor tasks in children and adolescents using high-speed video analysis, providing data for movement and health professionals. Seventy-two volunteers were divided into three age groups: 27 first-grade primary school students (19 males and 8 females, aged 6.5 ± 0.5 years), 35 fourth-grade primary school students (16 males and 19 females, aged 9.2 ± 0.4 years), and 28 s-year middle school students (16 males and 12 females, aged 13.0 ± 0.3 years). Participants performed five motor tasks: standing long jump, running long jump, stationary ball throw, running ball throw, and sprint running. Each task was recorded at 120 frames per second and analyzed using specialized software to measure linear and angular kinematic parameters. Quantitative measurements were taken in the sagittal plane, while qualitative observations were made using a dichotomous approach. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests with Bonferroni correction. Significant differences were observed across age groups in various parameters. In the standing long jump, older participants exhibited a longer time between initial movement and maximum loading. The running long jump revealed differences in the take-off angle, with fourth-grade students performing the best. Ball-throwing tests indicated improvements in the release angle with age, particularly in females. Sprint running demonstrated the expected improvements in time and stride length with age. Gender differences were notable in fourth-grade students during the running long jump, with females showing greater knee flexion, while males achieved better take-off angles. Video analysis effectively identified age-related and gender-specific differences in motor skill performance. The main differences were measured between first-grade primary school and second-year middle school students while gender differences were limited to all age groups. This method provides valuable insights into motor development trajectories and can be used by professionals to objectively assess and monitor the technical aspects of motor skills across different age groups.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/11/1351video analysisgross motor skillsmotor developmentmotor competencekinematics
spellingShingle Luca Russo
Massimiliano Micozzi
Ghazi Racil
Alin Larion
Elena Lupu
Johnny Padulo
Gian Mario Migliaccio
Decoding Motor Skills: Video Analysis Unveils Age-Specific Patterns in Childhood and Adolescent Movement
Children
video analysis
gross motor skills
motor development
motor competence
kinematics
title Decoding Motor Skills: Video Analysis Unveils Age-Specific Patterns in Childhood and Adolescent Movement
title_full Decoding Motor Skills: Video Analysis Unveils Age-Specific Patterns in Childhood and Adolescent Movement
title_fullStr Decoding Motor Skills: Video Analysis Unveils Age-Specific Patterns in Childhood and Adolescent Movement
title_full_unstemmed Decoding Motor Skills: Video Analysis Unveils Age-Specific Patterns in Childhood and Adolescent Movement
title_short Decoding Motor Skills: Video Analysis Unveils Age-Specific Patterns in Childhood and Adolescent Movement
title_sort decoding motor skills video analysis unveils age specific patterns in childhood and adolescent movement
topic video analysis
gross motor skills
motor development
motor competence
kinematics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/11/1351
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