Leving, M.T. (Marika) (2015) Encouraging intrinsic motor exploration in manual wheelchair propulsion: Influence of variable training on the motor learning process. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Background: The goal of the current study was to determine whether offering variable practice, i.e. wheelchair basketball and skill training, therefore encouraging intrinsic motor exploration, would enhance the motor learning process of wheelchair propulsion. Learning was operationalized as an improvement in mechanical efficiency and propulsion technique. Methods: 11 Participants performed a pre-test, 7 training sessions and a post-test. Pre- and post-test were performed in a wheelchair on a motor-driven treadmill (1.11 m/s) at a relative power output of 0.23 W/kg. Energy consumption and the propulsion technique variables with their respective coefficient of variation were calculated. Between the pre- and the post-test, participants performed 7 one-hour variable training sessions consisting of five wheelchair skill tests and 30 min wheelchair basketball game. Time scores of the skill tests were recorded at each training session. Results: Comparison of the pre- and the post-test showed that variable training resulted in a significant 27% relative increase in mechanical efficiency (p<0.001) and 53% relative increase in mean variability (p<0.001). A significant improvement between the pre- and the post-test was found for three propulsion variables: frequency (p=0.007), contact angle (p<0.001) and braking torque (p<0.001). No significant changes were found for the positive work and max torque per push. Additionally, performance on all five skill tests improved over the practice sessions (p<0.05). Conclusion: The present study showed that encouraging intrinsic variability, by introducing a variable training, results in an increase in mechanical efficiency, improved propulsion technique and increased variability. Large relative improvement in the mechanical efficiency was concomitant with moderate improvement in the propulsion technique suggesting that factors other than propulsion technique contributed to the lower energy expenditure. It may be that variable training facilitated the exploitation of the dynamics of the task and improved coordination which may have contributed to a less straining propulsion.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Vegter, R.J.K. and Groot, S. de and Woude, prof. dr. L.H.V. van der |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Apr 2022 09:44 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Apr 2022 09:44 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3096 |
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