Selected Factors Affecting Motor

Development
© Gallahue, D.L., Ozmun, J.C., & Goodway, J.D. (2012). Understanding Motor
Development. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2012 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

Both the processes and products of motor development
are influenced by a wide variety of factors
operating in isolation and in conjunction with one
another.

4-2
 Developmental Direction:
 Cephalocaudal: Progression from head to tail
 Proximodistal: Progression from center to
periphery
 Growth Rate:
 Self-regulatory fluctuation
 Developmental plasticity
 Reciprocal Interweaving:
 Differentiation
 Integration
4-3
 Learning Readiness:
 Developmental convergence
 Biological/environmental/physical
 Critical & Sensitive Learning Periods:
 Narrow vs. broad time frames
 Individual Differences:
 The mythical “average”
 Phylogeny & Ontogeny:
 “Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny” (or does it?)

4-4
 Infant Bonding:
 Imprinting vs. sensitive periods
 Long term outcomes
 Stimulation and Deprivation:
 Extreme conditions
 Developmental rate
 Developmental sequence

4-5
 Prematurity:
 Low birth weight : LBW =1500-2500gms. /3.35-5.56lbs
 ‘small-for-date’ = -2SD < X for gestational age
 Very low birth weight: VLBW =< 1500gms. /<3.31lbs
 Preterm infants: expected birth weight for gestational
age but < 37 weeks gestation ‘young-for date’
 Consequences: (figure 4.1)
 Long term effects
 Young-for-date

4-6
 Obesity:
 Overweight: BMI >25
 Obesity: BMI >30
 BMI chart: (table 4.1)
 Prevalence: (tables 4.2 & 4.3)
 An International Epidemic: (see International
Perspectives)
 Consequences: (table 4.4)
 Genetics & obesity: 70% chance of being obese adult
if not slimmed down by age 14
 Ethnicity and obesity: (table 4.3)

4-7
 Known Risk Factors:  Associated With:
-Type II Diabetes -Elevated Cholesterol
-Heart Disease -Pregnancy Complications
-Stroke -Menstrual Irregularities
-Hypertension -Excessive Body/Facial Hair
-Rheumatoid Arthritis -Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
-Osteoarthritis -Daytime Sleepiness
-Sleep Apnea -Gout
-Some Forms of Cancer -Impaired Immune Response
-Gallbladder Disease -Impaired Respiratory Function
-Heat Disorders

4-8
 Eating Disorders:
 Binge eating without purging: “Triggers” =
depression & negative emotions
 Bulimia: Binge-purge process
 Anorexia: Self-starving process
 Prevalence : 90% female; 3-4% of population
 Consequences: (table 4.5)

4-9
Binge Eating: Anorexia: Bulimia:
Binging without Obsession with Binging with
purging dieting purging
Irregular weight Steady weight loss Irregular weight
loss loss
Frequently obese Increased & Long bathroom
intensive physical breaks after meals
activity
Obsessed with Too concerned Loss of tooth
food with weight enamel

4-10
Binge Eating: Anorexia: Bulimia:
Disgusted with self Denial of Exaggerated fear
after binging episode hunger of gaining weight

Frequent history of Social isolation Impulsivity

depression
Frequent among those Obsessed with Throat,
on medically dieting & talk esophagus,
supervised weight loss of food stomach, or colon
program problems

4-11
 Fitness Levels:
 Physical Activity/Inactivity
 Physical Fitness: Genetic basis; nutritional status;
environmental influences
 Health-related components
 Performance-related components
 Biomechanics:
 Balance: Center of gravity; line of gravity; base of
support (figure 4.2)
 Giving force: Newton’s 3 Laws: Inertia; Acceleration;
Action/Reaction (figure 4.3)
 Receiving force: Distance; surface area (figure 4.4)

4-12
Motor development is a complex process influenced by
numerous factors within the biology of the individual, the
conditions of the learning environment, and the
requirements of the movement task: All of which
profoundly influence the products of developmental
change.

4-13