Browsing by Subject "Motor skills"
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Item A comparison of posture control: typically developing children vs. children with ADHD(2006-05) Aranha, Karen M.; Roncesvalles, Maria N. C.; Dornier, Lanie A.; Boros, Rhonda L.The purpose of this study was to investigate posture control and gross motor performance of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (N=13). Two groups of male participants were studied: younger (6-10 years of age) and older (11-14 years) ages. The specific objectives were: a) to compare performance of children with ADHD without (OFF) and with (ON) medication, b) to compare ADHD participants to age-matched typically developing (TD) peers (N=12), and c) to examine the relationship between balance and motor skills in both groups. The variables derived from the Sensory Organization Test (Neurocom balance Master) were the following balance indices: equilibrium scores (EQ), sensory ratios (SOM, VIS, VEST), and peak anterior-posterior center of pressure (COP) velocities. The variables used from the Test of Gross Motor Development were locomotor (LOC) and object manipulation (OBJ) scores. The results indicated that regardless of age there was a significant difference between the ADHD OFF and ON conditions for the ADHD group, with higher EQ scores (better balance) obtained in the ON condition. No significant differences were found between the ADHD (OFF/ON) and the TD groups, however age main effects were observed for each of the dependent variables when the ADHD OFF condition was compared to the TD group. Regardless of group membership older participants had better balance indices compared to the younger participants, reflecting a developmental effect. This also indicates similar developmental profiles for both the ADHD and the TD groups. A moderate correlation was evident between balance and LOC motor skills in the TD group, but not in participants with ADHD (OFF condition). Overall, the results indicate: a) use of medication improved the composite balance index (EQ), b) children with ADHD had comparable posture control and gross motor skills to their TD peers, and both groups followed the same developmental trajectory, and finally, c) that there is a moderate relationship between balance and LOC skills with the TD group, which was not evident in the ADHD group.Item A comparison of posture control: typically developing children vs. children with ADHD(Texas Tech University, 2006-05) Aranha, Karen M.; Roncesvalles, Maria N. C.; Dornier, Lanie A.; Boros, Rhonda L.The purpose of this study was to investigate posture control and gross motor performance of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (N=13). Two groups of male participants were studied: younger (6-10 years of age) and older (11-14 years) ages. The specific objectives were: a) to compare performance of children with ADHD without (OFF) and with (ON) medication, b) to compare ADHD participants to age-matched typically developing (TD) peers (N=12), and c) to examine the relationship between balance and motor skills in both groups. The variables derived from the Sensory Organization Test (Neurocom balance Master) were the following balance indices: equilibrium scores (EQ), sensory ratios (SOM, VIS, VEST), and peak anterior-posterior center of pressure (COP) velocities. The variables used from the Test of Gross Motor Development were locomotor (LOC) and object manipulation (OBJ) scores. The results indicated that regardless of age there was a significant difference between the ADHD OFF and ON conditions for the ADHD group, with higher EQ scores (better balance) obtained in the ON condition. No significant differences were found between the ADHD (OFF/ON) and the TD groups, however age main effects were observed for each of the dependent variables when the ADHD OFF condition was compared to the TD group. Regardless of group membership older participants had better balance indices compared to the younger participants, reflecting a developmental effect. This also indicates similar developmental profiles for both the ADHD and the TD groups. A moderate correlation was evident between balance and LOC motor skills in the TD group, but not in participants with ADHD (OFF condition). Overall, the results indicate: a) use of medication improved the composite balance index (EQ), b) children with ADHD had comparable posture control and gross motor skills to their TD peers, and both groups followed the same developmental trajectory, and finally, c) that there is a moderate relationship between balance and LOC skills with the TD group, which was not evident in the ADHD group.Item Cognitive function in chronic non-malignant pain patients treated with sustained-release morphine sulfate (Avinza)(2005-12) Panjabi, Sumeet Sham; Shepherd, Marvin D.The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between sustained-release morphine (Avinza®), and performance on neuropsychological tests assessing short term memory, information processing, and motor skills in chronic pain patients, while controlling for stages of pain model variables and the effects of benzodiazepines. A convenience sampling procedure was utilized to enroll a sample of patients who had a trial of short-acting narcotic analgesics for their chronic non-malignant pain. Enrolled patients were treated with long-acting morphine Avinza.® Patient interviews were conducted at enrollment and one-month follow-up. A total of 129 patients were enrolled in the study. Mean pain intensity ratings at the highest, lowest, and average levels in the previous week were lower at follow-up (10.90, 4.56. 7.64) than at baseline (12.71, 6.76, 10.01) respectively. Reduction in pain levels was associated with a corresponding reduction in levels of pain unpleasantness, pain suffering, and pain behaviors. The models evaluating the associations between the stages of pain model variables, morphine dose, benzodiazepine dose, and digit span test (chi square = 147.79, p = 0.76), digit symbol test (chi square = 128.06, p = 0.5), and paced auditory serial attention test fit the data well (chi square = 160.39, p = 0.85). There was a statistically significant inverse association between frequency of pain behaviors and digit span test scores at baseline (-0.49, p = 0.01). Although the association between pain behaviors and digit symbol test scores (- 17. 0 %, p = 0.09) and paced auditory serial addition test scores (-4.0%, p = .28) at baseline were not statistically significant, a large negative effect was found. At follow-up, the association between pain behaviors and digit span test was positive and not significant. The negative association between frequency of pain behaviors and digit symbol test scores (-4.4%, p = 0.67 ) and paced auditory serial addition test scores (-2.8%, p = 0.21) at follow-up were considerably weaker. There were no significant association between opioid dose and cognitive function test scores. Opioid therapy, particularly, sustained release morphine therapy (Avinza) does not contribute to cognitive impairment in chronic pain patients.Item How do children spend their time? : a quantitative analysis of physical activity in children on the autism spectrum(2010-05) Leandro, Ana Carolina; Jensen, Jody L.; Castelli, DarlaAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is pervasive neurodevelopment disorder characterized by a broad range of social abnormalities and deficit in motor skills, many times referred to as clumsiness. These abnormal social characteristics result in a restricted repertoire of activity and interests that also may affect the motor learning process. Therefore, fewer opportunities to practice motor skills can lead to a delay in achieving motor proficiency. It is well known that physical activity and motor proficiency are positively correlated and the amount of time spent in a physical activity is directly related to the level of expertise in neurotypical children. Hence, the specific aim of this study is to quantify the amount of physical activity in children with ASD and compare this value to that of non-diagnosed siblings (ASD siblings) and neurotypical controls (NT), as well as to compare the amount of physical activity between neurotypical controls and ASD siblings. In this study, it was hypothesized that: 1) children with ASD would have lower scores than their non-diagnosed sibling and also than the NT controls in the amount of physical activity; 2) non-diagnosed siblings and neurotypical children would not be different in the amount of physical activity; 3) children with ASD's general score on the motor skills assessments would be lower than the non-diagnosed siblings and lower than NT controls; 4) There would not be a difference in the general score on motor skills assessments between non-diagnosed siblings and neurotypical children and 5) the motor assessments scores would be positively correlated (p < 0.05) to the amount of physical activity. There were differences between ASD and NT groups regarding to the amount of physical activity and also regarding to the motor proficiency scores. Although those differences were not statistically significant, they definitely are clinically relevant as showed that the children on the autism spectrum presented a clear motor delay. Likewise, the correlation between amount of physical activity and motor proficiency was showed not to be significant. These results can be explained by the small sample size. Further studies with a larger sample size would be crucial to verify these hypotheses proposed in the present study.