Editorial
Antonis Kambas, PhD Associate Professor Editor-in-Chief Download (pdf, 296kb)
Volume 9 – 2017
Impact of Mental Health Problems on Physical Self-Esteem
Simons Johan1, Van Damme Tine1,2, Delbroek Hanne3, Probst Michel1 1Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, O & N IV, Bus 1510, B 3000 Leuven, Belgium 2University Psychiatric Centre, Campus Leuven, Gasthuisberg, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Herestraat 49, B 3000 Leuven, Belgium 3University Psychiatric Centre, Campus Leuven, Gasthuisberg, Child &
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Exercise program, Greek traditional music and mood profile of patients with dementia: a pilot study
The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effect of a music-based exercise program on mood state of patients with dementia listening to Greek traditional music while exercising. The sample consisted of 18 patients, all residents of Arogi Rehabilitation Centre, randomly separated in two groups, that is, the exercise group (N=12) following the one-week music-based exercise program at a frequency of 4 training sessions, for 45 minutes each session, and the control group (N=6) with no exercise or music involved. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) was administered to all residents to examine the short term effect of the music-based exercise program in terms of patients’ distinct mood states. Results revealed that although no statistically significant differences were noted between the two groups in all pre-measures, the experiment group exhibited significantly higher scores on vigor and lower scores on tension-anxiety, fatigue-inertia, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, confusion and total mood profile compared with the control group in post-measurements. The positive effect of the music-based exercise program on patients’ mood state was discussed and recommendations were made to extent its use to all residents with chronic conditions, aiming to improve mood and quality of life during rehabilitation.
Motor proficiency of children with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities: a review
The purpose of this study was to present a review of studies that have examined the motor proficiency (MP) of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID) by using standardized motor assessment tools (Movement Assessment Battery for Children; Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency; Test of Gross Motor Development). The search conducted in three electronic databases, following specific criteria, revealed 17 studies considering children with ASD and 9 with ID. Their review revealed that, regardless of the motor assessment tool used, children with ASD and ID demonstrate difficulties in their fine and gross motor skills. Moreover, children within the same disorder spectrum exhibit various MP levels. This information, although limited, is valuable and should be deployed if the negative consequences of poor MP are to be countered and the daily living of those populations is to be improved.
The convergent validity of four fine motor assessment tools in 5 to12 years old children
The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the convergent validity of four fine motor assessment tools in 5 to 12 year old children. Other research goals were the investigation of age and gender differences concerning fine motor skills in this population. In this longitudinal study, children from the last year of nursery school were followed till their sixth grade. During these 7 years, four fine motor assessment tools were administered: The Movement-ABC, the Punktiertest für Kinder, the Epreuve de pointillage and the Gibson Spiral Maze. Generally, low correlations were found between the four assessment tools. The correlation between the Epreuve de pointillage and the Punktiertest für Kinder was the highest. The lowest correlations were found with the Movement-ABC. Secondly, significant sex differences were observed. Improvements in fine motor skills with age were noted, especially in the lower grades. Finally, girls performed significantly better than boys on the fine motor assessment tools. The results of the Epreuve de pointillage and the Punktiertest für Kinder indicate that they both measure a similar aspect of fine motor skills but different aspects were measured in the other instruments. Overall, more research on this topic is needed.
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Assessment of gross and fine motor skills in preschool children using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales Instrument
The purpose of this study was to identify the motor development level in preschool children through the administration of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 battery. The field research was conducted to schools and one hundred and fifty-six 3 to 6year-old children participated in the study. The children’s performances were assessed by gender, age group and type of motor skill. The statistical analyses computed showed that the state of the total motor quotient of the children was judged to be satisfactory, with slight differentiations per age group, with the older age-groups performing better than the younger in the fine motor quotient.
Furthermore, the girls excelled in locomotion, stationary and visual-motor integration skills and the boys in object manipulation skill. The findings highlight the need for assessment batteries in the planning of suitable programmes for the improvement of children’s motor skills.
