Citation

Wilson MR, Miles CA, Vine SJ, Vickers JN. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2013; 45(6): 1144-1151.

Affiliation

1Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom 2Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1249/MSS.0b013e31828288f1

PMID

23274610

Abstract

PURPOSE: This is the first study to use the quiet eye (QE) as an objective measure of visuomotor control underpinning proficiency differences in children's motor coordination. METHODS: Fifty-seven, year 5 primary school children (9-10 years old) completed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (2 Edition; MABC-2) while wearing a gaze registration system. Participants were subsequently divided into one of three ability groups; high motor coordination (HMC), median motor coordination (MMC) and low motor coordination (LMC) based on these MABC-2 scores (Mean % Rank: HMC = 84%; MMC = 51%; LMC = 19%). QE analyses were performed for the fourth task of the MABC-2, which involved throwing a tennis ball against a wall and catching it on the return. RESULTS: The HMC group was more successful in the catching task than both other groups (Catching percentage: HMC = 92%; MMC = 62%; LMC = 35%), and demonstrated superior visuomotor control throughout the throwing and catching phases of the task. Compared to the other groups, the HMC group demonstrated longer targeting QE fixations prior to release of the ball (HMC = 500ms; MMC = 410ms; LMC = 260ms); and longer tracking QE durations prior to catching (HMC = 260ms; MMC = 200ms; LMC = 150ms). There were no significant differences in ball flight time between the groups. Mediation analyses revealed that only the duration of the tracking QE predicted group differences in catching ability. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that the ability to predict and calibrate movements based on sensory feedback may be impaired in children with movement coordination difficulties, and have implications for how they are taught fundamental movement skills.

Language: en