KIN 3Q03 - Motor Development Concepts

Study Notes

Course code: KIN 3Q03
Textbook reading: Chapter 1
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Definitions: Defines motor development, motor learning, motor control, maturation, and related concepts.
Newell's Model: Describes constraints as a model for studying motor development.
Developmental Trajectory: Describes a typical developmental trajectory.
Research in Motor Development: Provides an overview of different types of studies in motor development.

Growth: Refers to an increase in size or body mass due to the formation of existing body parts. Occurs at the cellular level.
Maturation: Refers to progress towards physical maturity, the optimal integration of body systems and the ability to reproduce.
Development: Is a continuous process throughout the lifespan; progress continues as age advances; rates of change differ between individuals.
Aging: Is the process associated with the passage of time, leading to loss of adaptability, full function, and ultimately death.

Uniqueness: Individuals function in diverse ways encompassing physical, social, cognitive, and psychological attributes. Predictable maturation, yet individuals are different; changes in movement do not automatically equate to development. Motor learning is a more apt term instead of development in these scenarios.

Motor Development: The continuous, age-related process of change in movement
Motor Learning: Relatively permanent gain in motor skill capabilities through practice and experience.
Motor Control: The study of neural, physical, and behavioural aspects of movement.
Motor Behaviour: Used when not differentiating between motor learning and development, or to include both.

A model is beneficial for studying developmental changes throughout the lifespan.
The model aids in incorporating relevant factors in observations of motor behaviour.
Useful for understanding complex tasks and how skills constantly change.
Helps categorize these changes.

Karl Newell's 1986 Model: Consists of individual constraints, task constraints, environmental constraints, and interactions between these entities.

Individual Constraints: Person's unique physical and mental traits; factors like height, limb length, strength, and motivation influence movement.
- Structural Constraints: Related to body structure (e.g., height, weight, muscle mass, leg length); changes slowly over time.
- Functional Constraints: Related to behavioural function (e.g., motivation, fear, experiences, attentional focus); changes more rapidly.
Environmental Constraints: External factors affecting movements (e.g., temperature, lighting, humidity, floor surface); exterior to the body.
Task Constraints: Include goals and rules tied to particular movements (e.g. playing basketball – dribbling the ball). These are also external to the body.

Consider factors affecting motor performance in activities like swinging a bat, snowboarding, and playing basketball (e.g., crowd noise, reaction time, fatigue, anxiety, injury risk, experience).