A goal leading to improving motion analysis and therapy

The ability to finely control our body movements is crucial for both motor and cognitive development, allowing us to achieve skills we use and develop throughout our lives.

Coordination skills involve mobilizing our conditioned skills appropriately in a given task situation. They enable precise, smooth, rhythmic, harmonious, and aesthetically pleasing execution of movements. Additionally, coordination skills allow us to adapt to ever-changing environments, adjust our behaviour, and perform actions as a whole.

Analyses have shown that coordination abilities require constant nervous system regulation and control. The nervous system is 25-30% developed at birth and reaches 75-80% by the age of 8-9 years. Among all organ systems, the nervous system matures earliest, reaching 100% of its full potential first. The most sensitive period for developing coordination skills is from 0 to 14 years of age. After this period, the development potential decreases. The level of development achieved during this timeframe determines the maximum potential for all coordination skills that can be attained later in life.

Early childhood coordination refers to a child’s motor skills, including walking, running, and jumping, and their execution with smooth, harmonious movement.

The characteristics of coordinated movement include appropriate speed, distance, direction, timing, and muscle tension.

Age-appropriate balance and coordination allow children to experience success in sports by helping their bodies move to perform physical skills like ball games. It also helps them maintain appropriate physical activity during tasks, reducing energy expenditure and minimizing fatigue. Good coordination skills also reduce the likelihood of injury, as the child can display appropriate postural responses when needed. Furthermore, good coordination promotes later success in fine motor tasks. Confidence and well-coordinated gross motor skills are essential for the development of children’s fine motor skills.

Due to favourable psychological conditions during preschool and early childhood, this period is considered the most sensitive one for developing balancing skills.

Individuals with coordinated movement are often perceived as skilled in sports, aware of their bodies in space, more dexterous, agile, and less likely to fall. Conversely, children with uncoordinated movement may appear clumsy or experience motor delays.

The lack of basic motor skills can make it difficult for children to participate in games and sports activities. This can lead to negative experiences that ultimately cause them to avoid such activities altogether.

This avoidance can have a long-term impact on cardiovascular health, resulting in a higher incidence of overweight or obesity, cardiovascular disease, and poor overall health compared to their peers.

Therefore, while early childhood offers prime opportunities for motor development, insufficient motor experiences can impair a child’s development both now and even later in life. The aim of this lesson is to learn how to assess the coordination skills of preschool children using simple tests. By doing so, we can identify children who are lagging behind and help them develop their skills in time to prepare them for their educational period.