The increasing level of computerization in design and engineering work has led to development of software such as Digital Human Modeling (DHM) Tools. These tools are used to simulate and visualize human work as well as evaluating ergonomic conditions. The ergonomic assessment methods based on observations, such as OWAS and RULA, are used for characterizing static load and are usually integrated in DHM tools. Researchers now aims at developing assessment methods of dynamic work where even time-dependent variables are taken into account. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a concept for quantification of wrist movements in flexion and extension, based on three exposure variables; angular position, angular velocity and repetitiveness. The concept is intended to form the basis for further development of a comprehensive assessment method for wrist movements, adapted for use in DHM tools. Such an approach is necessary because of the large amount of work-related cumulative disorders, reported from industry. The method approach contained a literature review, an establishment of concept content, a collection of motion data using goniometry and computer programming, in order to illustrate the function of the concept. The result proposed a quantification concept for wrist movements in flexion and extension, concerning angular position exposure, angular velocity level exposure and repetitiveness. The concept is based on a combination of modified and established evaluation methods, including suggestions for how to identify fundamental cycles, in order to determine repetitiveness. The presented concept provides a basis for further development of a comprehensive assessment method and highlights deficiencies in the lack of existing definitions concerning exposure threshold values. / Den ökande datoriseringen av konstruktion och produktionsplanering har lett till utveckling av mjukvaror såsom Digital Human Modeling (DHM)-verktyg. Dessa används för att simulera och visualisera människors arbete samt utvärdera ergonomiska förhållanden. De metoder som används för detta bygger på observation av statiska positioner, exempelvis OWAS och RULA, vilka i de flesta fall finns implementerade i DHM-verktygen. Forskare strävar nu efter att utveckla ergonomiska bedömningsmetoder av dynamiskt arbete där även tidsberoende variabler beaktas. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att utveckla ett koncept för kvantifiering av handledsrörelser i flexion och extension, med avseende på handledsposition, vinkelhastighet och repetitivitet. Konceptet ska ligga till grund för vidare utveckling mot en komplett bedömningsmetod av handledsrörelser, anpassade för användning i DHM-verktyg. En sådan är nödvändig på grund av den stora mängd arbetsrelaterade belastningsskor som rapporteras från industrin. Genomförandet bestod av litteraturstudier, beslut om konceptinnehåll, insamling av rörelsedata för handleden med hjälp av en electrogoniometer samt programmering för att illustrera kvantifieringskonceptet i siffror samt för att förenkla implementering i DHM-verktyg. Resultatet visar ett kvantifieringskoncept för handledsrörelser i flexion/extension med avseende på de ovan givna exponeringsvariablerna, samt ett förslag på hur identifikation av fundamentala cykler kan ske. Detta för att ge en uppfattning om graden av repetitivitet. Det presenterade konceptet i denna rapport ger en grund för fortsatt utveckling mot en heltäckande bedömningsmetod, samt belyser svårigheter i definitioner av exponeringsgränsvärden.

This diploma thesis deals with the issue of children with Down syndrome. Down syndrome is the most common genetic disorder with trisomy 21st chromosome with typical overal psychomotoric delay. The thesis is focused on the specific difficultes of children with Down syndrome, with emphasis on motor skills. Children with Down syndrome are examined by standard motion test Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd edition (MABC-2). There are a total of 19 children ranging in age 3-14 years. The control group of children is chosen in similar age group, a total of 20 children. Simultaneously at work is compared a parameter of achievement independent walking. This milestone is very often assessed and used in children with Down syndrome. The results show that children with Down syndrome in comparison with healthy peers did not achieve the similar level of motor skills. In the percentile rating, the children reached the level below the 5th percentile of standard norms. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a perceptual-motor development programme for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), as identified on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC). A pre- and post-test design was employed in the study and data were reported as case studies. The programme included a cognitive approach to perceptual-motor activities, with special attention to visual perception. The intervention programme was implemented over six consecutive weeks, with two 45-minute sessions each week. The motor proficiency of nine of the 12 children who participated in this study improved to the point where they were no longer classified as having DCD. The reasons for this improvement could be attributed to the regular practise provided by the perceptual-motor activities that were the content of the program and to the method of presentation, i.e. the cognitive strategies that were child-centred, which could have helped develop self-confidence in the children. These results are in agreement with the research of Schoemaker and Kalverboer (1994) that many children with DCD may learn to overcome or cope with their movement problems. The three children who performed most poorly on the M-ABC pre-test did not improve over the course of the intervention programme. A thorough examination of their perceptual-motor system could provide more information about the various factors that may contribute to their movement problems. It is also possible that the programme simply was not long enough for these children (they did not get enough practise) and/or they were not able to respond to the child-centred cognitive approach in such a short period of time.

10 Annotation This diploma thesis deals with relations between developmental coordination disorder (or developmental dyspraxia) and laterality and handedness. In the theoretical part this work summarizes actual knowledge about the origin and the development of laterality and handedness and describes possibilities how to examine it. It also deals with knowledge about developmental coordination disorder, its characteristic, etiology, prevalence and diagnostic possibilities. The aim of the practical part was to evaluate motor difficulties in children with right and left handedness and to compare differencies. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2 was used for that evaluation. Motor skills in 64 children (30 left-handed and 34 right-handed) were evaluated. We haven't found any difference between those groups of children, their results were very balanced. We have also tested the motor skills in children with crossed eye-hand laterality, any significant difference hasn't been found in comparison with standard population. The group of children with learning disabilities has been also evaluated, we have found statisticaly significant difference between their motor skills and motor skills of standard population.

Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism is a form of pervasive developmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication and restricted and stereotyped interests. These children are often clumsy and motor uncoordinated. They also performed worse in standardized tests of motor function. In this diploma thesis we used Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2 (MABC-2) for assessment motor skills in children with Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism aged 7-10 years in comparison with the group of children developing typically. Our study included 9 children with Asperger syndrome, 3 children with high-functioning autism and 64 children with typical development. Evident motor deficit (below 5. percentile) was found in 2 children with Asperger syndrome and 3 children with high-functioning autism. 1 child with Asperger syndrome was in a risk of motor deficit (6.-16. percentile). Children with Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism performed significantly worse than children developing typically in a total score of this test. Significant difference was found in two components of MABC-2, in Aiming and catching (AC) and Balance (BAL). Better results reached children with typical development. Results of this study indicate that children with Asperger syndrome...

This diploma thesis deals with very low birth weight children in relation to the occurrence of motor problems. The theoretical part provides an overview of knowledge about the low birth children's problems, early postnatal problems and problems from childhood to adulthood in the physical, psychological and pedagogic field. The main part of the theoretical information concerns the occurrence of motor disorders, particularly the developmental dyspraxia and motor disorders about very low birth children. The aim of the practical part of the work was to determine whether low birth weight infants have higher incidence of developmental dyspraxia in comparison with term infants. The research group consisted of 25 low birth weight children, they were examined by Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2 (MABC-2). Children were examinate for posture and postural functions compiled using our protocol. The another aim of the practical part of the work was to determine whether low birht weight children have higher incidence of physical activity in steps by week in comparison with normal birth weight infants. There was significant difference in the incidence of motor disorders between the research group and the control group of 73 normal birth weight children and standard population and the group of late...

Diplomová práce Hodnocení vývojové dyspraxie u dětí s vývojovou dysfázií Abstract This thesis focuses on possible incidence of developmental dyspraxia among children with developmental dysphasia. Theoretical part of the study summarizes information about developmental dyspraxia (sometimes also known as developmental coordination disorder). It also describes developmental dysphasia which is predominantly studied in logopaedics and it is less known in physiotherapy. The link between these disorders is the topic of the last chapter of the theoretical part. The aim of the practical part is to evaluate motor skills of children with developmental dysphasia with usage of diagnostic battery Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2. Both foreign and newly published Czech population norms have been used for analysis of the results. In the research, 89 children with average age of 69 months have been examined. The first group included 41 children with developmental dysphasia. For this first group, the control group of 48 children was also set up. The research proved statistically significant difference between motor skills of children with developmental dysphasia in comparison to the control group. This difference has been proven by both Czech and foreign norms. On the other hand difference between motor skills of...

Diploma thesis "Diagnosis of developmental dyspraxia in children and adolescents with a focus on the preference of the upper or lower extremities in sport" summarizes all available information about etiology, diagnosis and therapy of developmental dyspraxia in the theoretical part. The practical part deals with the use of the diagnostic test Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2, which is designed to identify motor disorders in children. Developmental dyspraxia is very often associated with attention problems so the Test of Attention d2 was used. Difficulty with attention has been confirmed in individuals with impaired physical abilities. There was no significant difference in the overall motor skills between handball players and soccer players. The evaluation of particular components showed significantly better results for girls playing handball in the field of manual dexterity.

The overall purpose of this thesis is to investigate, discuss and problematise different aspects of movement ability. The four sub-studies of the thesis deal with various issues concerning assessment of movement ability. First, the focus is on how the concept of physical literacy has influenced the steering document of the subject physical education and health (PEH) in Sweden. The question is: What kind of tensions and conflicts arise when different approaches and interpretations of movement ability are used in an educational context? Second, a structural validation is conducted of the NyTid test, an assessment tool developed to assess basic and complex movement skills at the ages of 12-16 years. The question is: Which categories of movement skills are identified through the validation of the NyTid test? Third, the study examines how ‘ability’ is conceptualised, configured and produced in movement tests and movement assessment tools. Finally, an investigation of how or whether an assessed low or high movement ability at the age of 15 matters for developing an interest in, or taste for, sport and physical activities nine years later, in young adulthood. Movement ability is studied from different perspectives, including a multidisciplinary sport science approach using mixed methods. The theoretical standpoint in the sociocultural analyses is inspired by Bourdieu’s theories and concepts of habitus, capital, field and doxa, which are used as analytical tools. Different theories relating to the evaluation of movement abilities as product- or process oriented assessment are also made use of. Movement abilities tests and assessment tools are also found to construct a specific and narrow form of physical capital strongly related to traditional sports. Accordingly, the social construction of movement ability through assessment tools is far from neutral and could affect how children see themselves and their sense of ‘ability’. Furthermore, the assumption that an acquired high level of movement ability plays a central role for being physically active is challenged in the thesis. Even though pupils at the age of 15 had a low level of assessed movement ability, it did not prevent them from acquiring a taste for sport and physical activity later in life. However, more studies on movement ability and the underlining mechanisms and factors for engaging in physical activities are necessary. / Forskningslinjen Utbildning

This diploma thesis focuses on two conditions that typically occure in childhood - poor posture and developmental coordination disorder. The theoretical part summarizes recent information on these diseases focusing on their etiology, prevalence, prognosis, methods of assessment, diagnosis and treatment. The main aim of the practical part was to evaluate the motor control of treated children with poor posture in comparison with children from the general population. The research group (13 children, mean age 9.85 years) and control group (16 children, mean age 9.94 years) were assessed using Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2. We found no significant difference between motor skills of treated children with poor posture and motor skills of children representing the general population. We also analysed whether treated children with poor posture reported less physical activity compared with the general population. By gathering data from questionnaires (completed by parents of tested children), no statistically significant difference was found. The difference was neither detected in test of posture and postural functions, where we investigated how poor posture of treated children can influence the results of the test. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)