Stabilometric Correlates of Motor and Motor Imagery Expertise

Motor Imagery (MI) reproduces cognitive operations associated with the actual motor preparation and execution. Postural recordings during MI reflect somatic motor commands targeting peripheral effectors involved in balance control. However, how these relate to the actual motor expertise and may vary along with the MI modality remains debated. In the present experiment, two groups of expert and non-expert gymnasts underwent stabilometric assessments while performing physically and mentally a balance skill. We implemented psychometric measures of MI ability, while stabilometric variables were calculated from the center of pressure (COP) oscillations. Psychometric evaluations revealed greater MI ability in experts, specifically for the visual modality. Experts exhibited reduced surface COP oscillations in the antero-posterior axis compared to non-experts during the balance skill (14.90%, 95% CI 34.48–4.68, p < 0.05). Experts further exhibited reduced length of COP displacement in the antero-posterior axis and as a function of the displacement area during visual and kinesthetic MI compared to the control condition (20.51%, 95% CI 0.99–40.03 and 21.85%, 95% CI 2.33–41.37, respectively, both p < 0.05). Predictive relationships were found between the stabilometric correlates of visual MI and physical practice of the balance skill, as well as between the stabilometric correlates of kinesthetic MI and the training experience in experts. Present results provide original stabilometric insights into the relationships between MI and expertise level. While data support the incomplete inhibition of postural commands during MI, whether postural responses during MI of various modalities mirror the level of motor expertise remains unclear.

USING COACHING TECHNIQUES IN ASSESSING AND DEVELOPING THE STATIC AND DYNAMIC BALANCE LEVEL OF YOUNG VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

An important skill in today's volleyball game is dynamic and static balance, so our investigation focused on assessing and developing balance at young volleyball players using the Y balance test. The sample was formed by 25 female volleyball players with age between 10.22 ± 2.49 years that were active at the ACS Alpha Sport Team from Sibiu. The results showed improved performances of our players from the initial testing compared with the final testing in all directions of movement, proving that balance skill training can be an important aspect in the modern volleyball game

Reliance on Visual Input for Balance Skill Transfer in Older Adults: EEG Connectome Analysis Using Minimal Spanning Tree

Skill transfer from trained balance exercises is critical to reduce the rate of falls in older adults, who rely more on vision to control postural responses due to age-dependent sensory reweighting. With an electroencephalography (EEG) minimum spanning tree (MST) structure, the purpose of this study was to compare the organization of supraspinal neural networks of transfer effect after postural training using full and intermittent visual feedbacks for older adults. Thirty-two older adults were randomly assigned to the stroboscopic vision (SV) (n = 16; age = 64.7 ± 3.0 years) and control (16; 66.3 ± 2.7 years) groups for balance training on a stabilometer (target task) with on-line visual feedback. Center-of-pressure characteristics and an MST-based connectome of the weighted phase-lag index during the bilateral stance on a foam surface (transfer task) were compared before and after stabilometer training. The results showed that both the SV and control groups showed improvements in postural stability in the trained task (p < 0.001). However, unlike the control group (p = 0.030), the SV group who received intermittent visual feedback during the stabilometer training failed to reduce the size of postural sway in the anteroposterior direction of the postural transfer task (unstable stance on the foam surface) in the post-test (p = 0.694). In addition, network integration for the transfer task in the post-test was absent in the SV group (p > 0.05). For the control group in the post-test, it manifested with training-related increases in leaf fraction in beta band (p = 0.015) and maximum betweenness in alpha band (p = 0.018), but a smaller diameter in alpha (p = 0.006)/beta (p = 0.021) bands and average eccentricity in alpha band (p = 0.028). In conclusion, stabilometer training with stroboscopic vision impairs generalization of postural skill to unstable stance for older adults. Adequate visual information is a key mediating factor of supraspinal neural networks to carry over balance skill in older adults.

The effect of resistance training without balance exercises on static balance skill

Background and Study Aim: The aim is to evaluate the effect of resistance training without balance exercises on the static balance skill. Material and Methods: The universe of the study consists of volunteer students who are chosen among the students with similar physical characteristics and training history (n=15) who are taking education at Istanbul Gelisim University, High School of Physical Education and Sports (n = 1286) who have any current health problems and disability history. An information form questionnaire (age, height, and weight, training history) was applied as a personal data collection tool. Static balance skill of the participants tested through AC International East Sp. Z O.O. which has the brand of– SIGMA Balance Platform which is found at performance measurement and evaluation laboratory of Istanbul Gelisim University, High School of Physical Education and Sports. Test procedures were applied before and after the 6-week resistance training program. Results: Statistically significant differences were detected in test values of Static balance skill x axis deviation rate of the study group, rate of deviation from the center in the x axis, the length of distance and average surface area which is used (P<0,05).Conclusions: It was identified that 6-week resistance training practices without balance exercises have a positive effect on the development of static balance skill.

PERMAINAN TRADISIONAL EGRANG BATHOK KELAPA SEBAGAI POTENSI LOKAL UNTUK KECERDASAN KINESTETIK ANAK PADA KELOMPOK B DI TK TUNAS RIMBA I SUMBAWA SEMARANG TAHUN AJARAN 2016/2017

Permainan tradisional sekarang ini sudah mulai tergusur oleh permainan-permainan modern yang mengandalkan alat dan teknologi. Permainan yang sebenarnya tidak membuat mereka aktif secara fisik. Mereka tidak mengenal atau bahkan belum pernah mendengar tentang permainan tradisional cublak-cublak suweng, egrang bathok kelapa, sluku-sluku bathok, dan sebagainya. Anak-anak sekarang sudah asing dengan permainan tradisional yang didasarkan atas semakin banyaknya permainan modern saat ini, seperti gadget yang menyediakan banyak game online dan sebenarnya permainan tradisional justru melatih seluruh aspek perkembangan anak. Permainan tradisional sebaiknya dikenalkan pada anak sejak dini karena permainan tradisional mengajarkan nilai-nilai luhur budaya bangsa. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengembangkan kecerdasan kinestetik sebagai potensi lokal dalam permainan tradisional egrang bathok kelapa. Peneliti berharap dapat mengenalkan eksistensi permainan tradisional egrang bathok kelapa yang hampir punah untuk potensi kecerdasan kinestetik anak. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kualitatif. Subjek penelitian ini adalah kepala sekolah, guru, dan anak TK B. Tehnik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi. Data dianalisis dengan menggunakan model Miles and Huberman yaitu reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Tehnik pengujian keabsahan data dengan triangulasi sumber. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa permainan tradisional egrang bathok kelapa dapat mengembangkan tujuh komponen kecerdasan kinestetik anak yaitu: kemampuan koordinasi tubuh, keseimbangan tubuh, keterampilan, kekuatan fisik, kelenturan tubuh, kecepatan dan ketangkasan gerak. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian ini saran yang dapat disampaikan adalah guru dapat mestimulasi perkembangan kecerdasan kinestetik anak dengan memperkenalkan permainan-permainan tradisional serta dapat menambah sarana dan prasarana, untuk dapat meningkatkan kecerdasan kinestetik anak. Kata Kunci : Permainan tradisional egrang bathok kelapa, Kecerdasan kinestetik Today’s traditional games are already being displaced by modern games that rely on tools and technology. The actual game does not make them physically active. They do not know or even have never heard of the traditional games cublak-cublak suweng, egrang bathok kelapa, sluku-sluku bathok, and so on. Children are now familiar with traditional games based on the increasing number of modern games today, such as gadgets that provide many online games and actually traditional games actually train all aspects of child development. Traditional games should be introduced to children early because the traditional games teach the noble values of the nation’s culture. The purpose of this study was to develop kinesthetic intelligence as a local potency in the traditional game of egrang bathok kelapa. Researchers hope to intraduce the existence of a traditional game of egrang bathok kelapa leather that is almost extinct for the potential kinesthetic intelligence of children. Research method used is qualitative. The subjects of this study were principals, teachers ad children of kindergarten B. Data collection techniques are observation, interviews, and documentation. Data were analyzed by using the model of Miles and Huberman of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion. Mechanical testing the validity of the data by triangulation. The result of the research shows that the traditional game of egrang bathok kelapa can develop seven component of kinesthetic intelligence : body coordination ability, body balance, skill, physical strength, flexibility, speed and agility of motion. Based on the result of this study suggestions that can be delivered is the teacher can stimulate the development of kinesthetic intelligence of children by introducing the traditional games and can add facilities and infrastructure, to be able to improve kinesthetic intelligence of children. Keywords: Traditional Game Egrang Bathok Kelapa, Kinesthetic Intelligence

THE EFFECT OF TRAINING METHOD AND BALANCE ON SKILL OF WEIGHT LIFTHING SNATCH The Experimental Study for Students at Faculty of Sport Science State University of Manado

The experimental study is aimed to find out comparison of the effect of two training methods upon skills of snatch. The training method consists of both weight and plyometric training method. This research also aimed to find out interaction between training method and balance toward skill of snatch. The balance consists of both high and low balance. This research was carried out in Faculty of Sport Science, State University of Manado, in the academic year of 2012/2013. The experimental method using factorial design 2x2. The sample consisted of 40 students divided into four groups, each consisting of 10 students. The analyzing techniques of data were two-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) and further continued by Tukey test at α= .05 level significance. The result of this research shows that (1) in general, skill of snatch using weight training method is higher than those using plyometric training method, (2) for high balance using weight training method is higher than those plyometric training method, (3) for low balance using weight training and plyometric training method are not different at α= .05 level significance, (4) there is interaction between training method and balance toward skill of weight lifting snatch. Keywords: method training; balance; skill; snatch.