Interfacing computerized biomechanical analysis in monitoring the motor development of children

This research investigated the effectiveness of using kinematic analysis to monitor the motor development of children on three fundamental movement pa tterns. 12 children with specific motor delays were filmed before and after participation in the 2-hr. per week, 7-wk. program. The film was analyzed (60 frames per second) using a 2-dimensional analysis system. There were no significant differences when a Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test wa s applied to the galloping and skipping center of gravity and linear veloci ties of the ball data. Timing of the peak linear velocities of the upper bo dy showed subjects increasingly exhibited the more advanced, sequential pat tern and no longer exhibited the less advanced simultaneous pattern after t he program. It was concluded the changes in timing were evidence of improve ments in coordination.