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The motivation for this study was to explore a conceptual framework to understand the outcomes and processes of motor performance in children. Vertical jumping, a fundamental movement skill, was used to compare children (ages 6-12 years) who were typically developing (TD) and those identified as having low motor proficiency (LMP). Jumps were analysed using force plate and 2D kinematic data. The hierarchal framework was applied starting with jump height and descending to the spatial and timing data that describe the global and local coordination processes. Children with LMP jumped lower than their TD peers. Of most interest for understanding the coordination, peak VCOM occurred earlier in the jumping movement for the LMP group. This is interpreted as coordination error and supported by reduced shank angular velocity immediately prior to take-off. These findings suggest a potential value for the vertical jump as a means for identifying coordination dysfunction in children. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)

The purpose of this study was to progressively overload vibration platform frequency to describe sea-saw whole body vibration influence on neuromuscular performance of community-dwelling older adults. Seventy-three community-dwelling older adults (aged 72 [+ or -] 8 years) were randomly assigned to 4 groups (zero, one, 2, and 3 whole body vibration sessions per week). Quantifiers of neuromuscular performance such as the 5-Chair Stands test, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the Tinetti test were recorded. Furthermore, Health-related quality of life was qualified with the SF-36 Health Survey. A 6-week whole body vibration intervention significantly improved the quantifiers of neuromuscular performance in a community-dwelling older adult sample. Whole body vibration was shown to significantly reduce time taken to complete the 5-Chair Stands test (p < 0.05) and the TUG test (p < 0.05). Tinetti test scores significantly improved (p < 0.05). as did all components of health-related quality of life (p < 0.05). Overall, progressively overloaded frequency elicited more beneficial improvement for the 3 whole body vibration sessions per week group. It was concluded that progressively overloaded frequency was effective in improving quantifiable measures of neuromuscular performance in the sample and that practitioners may confidently prescribe 3 whole body vibration sessions per week with more precise knowledge of the effects of whole body vibration on neuromuscular performance and health-related quality-of-life effects. KEY WORDS platform dynamics, progressive overload,

This study assessed measurement agreement of jump-height measures derived from a portable forceplate sampling at 500 Hz. Female (n = 42) and male (n = 30) participants (total N = 72, age = 19.7 ± 2.8 y, height = 174.5 ± 9.3 cm, mass = 71.4 ± 12.8 kg) performed 25 separate maximal jump attempts. This incorporated 5 sets of 5 single jumps. One minute of rest was allowed between jump attempts, with a 3-min rest period between sets. For each participant, the best jump height for each set of 5 jumps was kept for analysis. No systematic bias was identified, and the best jump height was stable within participants across all 5 sets of jumps. Therefore, factors such as fatigue and learning did not affect the measures. Females did jump lower (P = < .0001) than their male counterparts, justifying additional analysis of agreement for the 2 gender groups. Heteroscedasticity was found, so ratio limits of agreement (LOAs) were calculated by using the antilog of the log-transformed data. The calculated ratio LOAs were ×/÷ 1.08 for the total group, ×/÷ 1.08 for females, and ×/÷ 1.08 for males. From the calculated ratio LOA, the jump protocol was shown to provide stable measures of jump height. In addition, the ratio LOA can be helpful to interpret findings from research that report jump height derived from the same protocol and assessing participants from the studied population (ie, active university-age male, female, or combined-gender groups). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]