Chapter 1

Interactive Lab

Quiz

Putting it into Practice

Balance and Proprioception

Darren is a 31-year-old man who works for the forest service as a forestry technician. He spends the majority of his time in the outdoors and his job is physically demanding. On any given day he could be doing trail maintenance, installing drainage systems, cutting trees, stacking wood, preparing an area for revegetation, or a variety of other duties. One of the ways he stays physically active is by playing basketball in the local rec. league. Recently, he went up for a rebound and upon landing, stepped on an opponent’s foot and rolled his right ankle. He was diagnosed with a grade 2 ankle sprain that has sidelined him not only from basketball but also any field work at his job. He hates working at a desk so wants to get back to the field as soon as possible.

Darren has been working on regaining his range of motion and restoring muscle strength and has progressed from non-weight bearing to partial and now to full weight bearing. His balance and proprioception have been adversely affected by the sprain and need to be retrained.

Test Your Knowledge

Below are examples of balance tasks from which the therapist can draw. Place them in the appropriate cell of Gentile’s taxonomy.

  1. Single leg stance
  2. Single leg squat with dumbbell curl
  3. Walking a straight line heel to toe
  4. Step up to balance position with leg lift and dumbbell press
  5. Single leg ball wall toss and catch
  6. Squat on Bosu ball
  7. Lunge onto Bosu ball with front foot
  8. Single leg stance and forward reach to variable illuminated targets (e.g. therapist will turn laser off and on in various locations on the wall)
  9. Step up onto Bosu ball with leg lift
  10. Walking lunge and weighted ball diagonal chop (alternating sides)
  11. Single leg stance reaching forward, to the side and backwards to targets with  non-support leg
  12. Sharpened or tandem Romberg stance
  13. Single leg stance exchanging a ball from hand to hand above the head
  14. Single leg hop and hold.

Answer

 

No/No

Object Only

Body Transport Only

Both

Stationary/Fixed

Single leg stance

Sharpened or tandem Romberg stance

Single leg squat with dumbbell curl

Walking a straight line heel to toe

 

Step up to balance position with leg lift and dumbbell press

Stationary/Variable

Squat on Bosu ball

Single leg stance reaching forward, to the side and backwards to targets with non-support leg

Single leg stance exchanging a ball from hand to hand above the head

Lunge onto Bosu ball with front foot

Step up onto Bosu ball with leg lift

Single leg hop and hold

Walking lunge and weighted ball diagonal chop (alternating sides)

Moving/Fixed

 

 

 

 

Moving/Variable

 

Single leg ball wall toss and catch

 

 

Introduction to Motor Learning and Control

Useful Links

Evasion belt drill
www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7t8NnWEkS4
Wii Fit Game
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmHRVjAlt_c
Link to International Society of Sport Psychology’s position stand:  To Test or Not to Test? The Use of Physical Skill Tests in Talent Detection and in Early Phases of Sport Development
www.issponline.org/p_positionstands.asp?ms=3&sms=2
Video example of a police physical agility test
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d5e3Enny98
UK sport talent identification and development program
www.uksport.gov.uk/our-work/talent-id
Canoe slalom talent identification promotion video from Australia
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6V8fe8R-TE
Dr. Rob Gray podcast discussing talent identification
http://perceptionaction.com/26c/

Chapter 2

Interactive Lab

Quiz

Putting it into Practice

Hockey

Jennifer is a volunteer coach for a youth skill development hockey program. The program focuses on individual skill development that is designed to complement each player's team game and covers skating, stick-handling, shooting, puck protection, and many other dynamic hockey skills.

She is currently working with a group of Peewee players (ages 11–12) on the indirect pass, a skill introduced when they were Squirts (ages 9–10). The indirect pass is a pass made off the boards to an area where the receiver will be. When observing the players in a scrimmage, she noticed a poor success rate for indirect passes. She further assessed the players in both the receiving and passing role in an isolated drill and noted that performance was much better.

Test Your Knowledge

Before Jennifer can design activities to improve indirect pass performance, she needs to determine the underlying cause of the problem. Given what you have learned in this chapter, what variables should be considered that might be responsible for the poor indirect pass performance observed in a game situation?

Answer

The poor success rate for indirect passes could be a function of the passer, the receiver, or both. The passer must anticipate when to pass, how strong to make the pass, and where the puck should arrive so that a teammate can successfully skate to it. Even if the passer makes the perfect pass, the receiver skate to the open space, must be ready for the pass and his or her body and stick properly positioned for the reception. Given that performance was much better during an isolated drill, the anticipatory judgements of the passer should be further assessed.

Chapter 2

Understanding Movement Preparation

Useful Links

Video explanation of affordances and how they influence movement decisions
www.youtube.com/watch?v=81MgPOIq-Uw
Video discussing the application of affordances to coaching
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qejaHPi9UfE
Information about affordances and play space design
https://rethinkingchildhood.com/2012/01/30/affordance/
Baseball game that tests simple reaction time
www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/reactiontime.html
Basic simple reaction time test
http://cognitivelabs.com/mydna_speedtestno.htm
Interactive virtual card sorting task demonstrating Hick’s Law
www.psytoolkit.org/lessons/simple_choice_rts.html
ESPN’s Sport Science video on penalty kicks
www.dailymotion.com/video/x2obk7b
Video of Lehmann's use of penalty notes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqjNFjSvHV4
Video of MLB’s customizable scouting, analytics and video app called MLB Dugout
http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/8879974/v568826983/mlb-tonight-on-ipads-coming-to-all-30-dugouts
Interactive Stroop Effect demonstration
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/java/ready.html
Video of Reactive Agility Test
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TDjuwjokEk

Chapter 3

Quiz

Putting it into Practice

Hockey

Jennifer has determined that the poor indirect pass performance observed in a game situation is the result of below-average anticipation skills when passing. Her assistant suggests the following drill:

Indirect Pass Drill

Figure 3.6

P = Puck carrier; R = Receiver

Puck carrier skates around the net and makes an indirect pass off the wall to meet the receiver in the shaded area.

Test Your Knowledge

Review the drill outlined above. Would you recommend that Jennifer adopt this drill? Why or why not?

Answer

Given that problem involves the anticipatory judgements of the passer during a game situation, this drill would not be recommended. While the drill requires temporal anticipation in order to get the puck to where the receiver will be at the right time, it does not target the same anticipatory judgements required in a game situation. In this drill, the passer has prior knowledge of where the receiver will be and what action is required. The drill is too basic to address the problem.

Chapter 3

The Role of Attention, Arousal, and Visual Search in Movement Preparation

Useful Links

Video example of consequences of exceeding one’s attentional capacity
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl0JojWH1rQ
Interactive activity demonstrating influence of texting on reaction time
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/19/technology/20090719-driving-game.html?_r=2&
60 Minutes video interview with free solo climber Alex Honnold
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR1jwwagtaQ
Video of experimental design for testing ironic effects            
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8tE0nvn_Pk
Interactive visual search activities
  1. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XreVWeMdYk0&feature=youtu.be
  2. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XreVWeMdYk0&feature=youtu.be
Video of quiet eye during good and bad putts
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVPrzxffcsQ
Video of quiet eye during free throw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=voi00-xDiJw
Article that describes the visual tracking involved in catching a fly ball and making a hit at bat
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060411223044.htm
Video showing visual search strategies of Cristiano Ronaldo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR_uyPT-_aw
Interactive occlusion video to test anticipation of ball direction
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuJ0u19A4K8
Video example of visual scanning in soccer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_eub88aq7I
Interactive pitch recognition sample drill
www.sportseyesite.com
Video examples of reactive agility tasks
  1. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkl-mhWOWgY
  2. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j_DSncq3FI
Interactive evasion game to explore visual search strategy change as a result of experience
http://vv.carleton.ca/games/html/escape.html
Videos for visual training assessment question
  1. www.youtube.com/v/n6r_OwlxUiY
  2. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWEjX8c_XK4
Video showing what 80 percent of teenagers surveyed suggested for stopping people from texting and driving
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMNGCHRIjTs&feature=player_embedded

Chapter 4

Quiz

Putting it into Practice

Balance and Proprioception

Assessment of Darren’s progress indicates that he is ready for balance and proprioceptive activities to be incorporated into his rehabilitation program. Before doing so however, the physical therapist needs to develop a more comprehensive situational profile.

Test Your Knowledge

What individual constraints must be taken into consideration when designing a balance/proprioception program for Darren? Will these change over time? How will those changes influence program design?

Answer

Individual constraints that should be taken into consideration include but are not limited to pain, inflammation, tenderness, bruising, ankle stability and mobility, sensorimotor function, postural equilibrium, strength, flexibility, range of motion (ROM), and motivation. As pain and inflammation subside and tissue healing occurs, Darren will move from non-weight bearing to partial to full weight bearing and increased challenges can be imposed to meet daily and recreational activity demands.

Chapter 4

Behavioral Theories of Motor Control

Useful Links

Video explanation of degrees of freedom
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=nvoC9h7K3JA&NR=1
Videos of Honda’s ASIMO, a humanoid robot, performing multiple tasks
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUiZ8rZ8wzI
Video examples of open-loop control
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPLFSuoDacQ
Link to learn more about the Balans Multi-Chair and how its design influences postural control
www.fully.com/variable-balans-by-varier.html
Video demonstrating gender related center of gravity differences
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW0ZTvRCS1o
Video explanation and demonstration of Dynamic Systems
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m-9VweerAg&feature=relmfu
Video explanation and demonstration of Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) use in Coaching
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xx25KgDdHmQ
Video example of an invasion game taught using Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2I2asqzCtg&feature=related

Chapter 5

Interactive Lab

Quiz

Putting it into Practice

Balance and Proprioception

Darren doesn’t think an ankle sprain is a big deal. The swelling is down and he asks his physical therapist why he can’t just wear a brace instead of doing all of the balance exercises that have been prescribed.

Test Your Knowledge

If you were Darren’s physical therapist would you agree to let him wear the brace? Why or why not?

Answer

While a brace will provide an external support for changed ankle structure, long-term use will create a dependence and inhibit the re-establishment of ankle stability and proprioception. The ankle relies heavily on proprioceptive feedback to be responsive and quickly stabilize the ankle when perturbed. Darren will therefore be at risk of injury reoccurrence.

Chapter 5

Neural Mechanisms: Contributions and Control

Useful Links

Animated demonstration of a dancer “spotting.”
www.ballroomdancers.com/Learning_Center/Lesson/2/Default.asp?page=5
Video of patient performing reach and grasp tasks
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7ovIDE8vhY
Video overview of proprioception
www.youtube.com/watch?t=2&v=A1BVp5aivtA
Link to learn more about the disorienting effects an anti-gravity environment has on the vestibular system and on proprioception
https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/ast07aug_1  
Videos and overviews of concussions, their causes, symptoms, and details of the ImPACT test used to track recovery for a safe return to play

  1. www.statnews.com/2015/12/17/everything-know-dont-know-concussions/
  2. www.nebsportsconcussion.org/impact/sports-related-concussion-testing-and-impact-testing-program.html
  3. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBY12KJTeDk
Video illustrating concept of cortical remapping
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAzmyB9PFt4
Overview of Graded Motor Imagery
http://www.gradedmotorimagery.com/
Video overview of Graded Motor Imagery
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWYUJscRBRw
Interactive short-term memory storage test
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/stm0.html
Interactive memory activities
www.exploratorium.edu/memory/dont_forget/index.html

Chapter 6

Interactive Lab

Quiz

Putting it into Practice

Hockey

Jennifer also works with the Squirts (ages 9–10). The indirect pass to a moving target is introduced at this level. Her assistant reminds her of the drill he suggested earlier and thinks it would be a good one to start with after the skill is introduced and demonstrated.

Test Your Knowledge

Go back to the drill outlined at the end of Chapter 3. Does this drill target cognitive or associative stage learners? Should Jennifer start with this drill as her assistance suggested? Justify your answer.

Answer

Players must first learn how responsive the puck is when bounced off the boards. From a stationary position players should shoot the puck straight at the kick plate with varying degrees of force to learn how get it to bounce back the way they want it too. Next, to develop an understanding of angles, two stationary players standing approximately 3–4 m away from the boards and each other can practice indirect passes to one another. Players could then progress to skating with the puck and executing an indirect pass to a stationary receiver before implementing the drill outlined at the end of Chapter 3 as it targets early associative stage learners and is not suitable to use as a beginning drill.

Chapter 6

Stages of Learning

Useful Links

Video featuring pool-playing prodigy Landon Shuffett as a child
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bAvWs1PX2s
Videos of individuals at different stages of learning performing the forearm pass
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLyraHkLnrg
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxr63BfDG8Y
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_CW6jHRYuo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFwltz8xAgE
Video of a post-stroke individual re-learning how to walk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAV3w3nIyE8

Chapter 7

Interactive Lab

Quiz

Putting it into Practice

Balance and Proprioception

Darren's job requires him to not only hike along wooded trails, but to negotiate a variety of terrains, slopes, and obstacles while carrying a pack and/or equipment (e.g. a chain saw). Having developed a good static balance foundation, the physical therapist now needs to prepare Darren for returning back to his work in the field.

Test Your Knowledge

Create three balance/proprioception exercises that will positively transfer to Darren's on the job activities.

Answer

Keeping in mind that safety is always the top priority when designing exercises and activities one example would be to create an obstacle walk. During the walk Darren would be required to change directions quickly, step over items of varying heights, and step onto objects of varying compliance. The course could be set up in the clinic initially then progress to outside where it could incorporate the natural landscape including slopes/hills and a variety of surfaces. Head and gaze orientation could also be manipulated by having Darren perform head turns, look at a fixed point, or scan the environment to locate specific items. Performing under conditions of low light would also simulate the work environment, as would the addition of having to carry a variety of tools or equipment.

Chapter 7

The Learner: Pre-Instruction Considerations

Useful Links

Link to online learning styles questionnaire (VARK)
http://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/?p=results
Instructions for Dartfish EasyTag app
www.dartfish.com/easytag
Video illustrating negative transfer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFzDaBzBlL0&feature=youtu.be
Video showing how virtual reality simulators train surgeons
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u5BLlX4nG8
Video of virtual reality simulator for training quarterbacks
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XKxvKEFBps
Video of C-Mill treadmill
www.youtube.com/watch?v=65XrJ9DG3mM#t=11

Chapter 8

Quiz

Putting it into Practice

Hockey

Instead of trying to explain what to look for in different scenarios to make effective indirect passes, Jennifer elects to use the hands-off instruction approach. She wants to create game-play challenges using 3-on-3 half-ice scrimmages to hone their indirect passing skills.

Test Your Knowledge

What game modifications or conditions might Jennifer impose to help her players learn when to use and where to place their indirect passes? Also, how might guided discovery be used to help players improve their anticipation skills?

Answer

An example of a game modification would be to impose a rule that an attacking player must receive an indirect pass before entering the offensive zone or he or she will be considered offsides. Some questions that could be used to help players improve their anticipation skills in this situation are:

  1. Where should you aim when performing an indirect pass?
  2. If you are the one anticipating a pass, what can you do to make it easier for your teammate to determine where to pass the puck?
  3. What position should you be in when receiving the pass?

Chapter 8

Skill Presentation

Useful Links

Special Olympics Athletic Coaching Guide
http://digitalguides.specialolympics.org/athletics/?#/4/OnePage
PE Central Activity Cues—online resource for determining activity cues
www.pecentral.org/lessonideas/cues/cuesmenu.asp
Video overview of mirror neurons and their role when watching other people
http://video.pbs.org/video/1615173073
Video illustrating use of natural terrain to shape skiing technique
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R02GLDfl0Ws
Video describing terrain based learning
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvMkEd_r3Uw

Chapter 9

Quiz

Putting it into Practice

Hockey

Although the squirts are in the associative stage for the basic forehand pass and have shown steady improvement, Jennifer knows that the added complexity of banking a pass off of the boards at the right angle and speed to arrive at a desired location and time is a new concept. Until they learn how the puck comes off the boards, passing to a moving target is unrealistic for the squirts who have just been introduced to the indirect pass. She needs to simplify the skill initially.

Test Your Knowledge

How can the indirect pass be simplified for initial practice? Design three activities Jennifer could use to simplify the skill before adding a moving receiver. In what order would you suggest practicing the activities? Explain what strategy you used to simplify the skill and justify your recommended order.

Answer

  • From a stationary position, complete an indirect pass to a large area or zone (provide visual identifier such as cones). The puck should pass through the zone not stop in it.

Strategy: Because the activity is performed to a stationary area, the complexity of the environment is reduced (closed skill) and the large size of the target zone decreases the level of precision therefore reduces the coordination requirement.

  • From a stationary position, complete indirect passes to three separate stationary targets (e.g. cones) positioned at different distances.

Strategy: Stationary targets are again used decreasing the complexity of the environment (closed skill); however, the level of precision required has increased because of the change in target size and position.

  • Perform activities 1 and 2 while skating with the puck.

Strategy: Because the targets remain stationary, the activity continues to involve a closed skill (decreasing the complexity of the environment); however, the requirement to be moving while performing the pass increases the level of difficulty because of the new coordination requirements.

Chapter 9

Principles of Practice Design

Useful Links

Video example of the repetitive part method using the snatch (weightlifting)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6SjuAOjMEk
Video discussing MS and kitchen modifications
www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3PTJK56ZLY
Link to an article describing how to design aquatic exercise progressions
www.rehabpub.com/2009/04/aquatic-progressions/
Fitts’ Law demonstration
http://fww.few.vu.nl/hci/interactive/fitts/
Video illustrating how thoughts are being translated into actions performed through a computer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h3kiws4I54

Chapter 10

Interactive Lab

Quiz

Putting it into Practice

Balance and Proprioception

Darren’s rehab has been progressing and he is now working on functional balance activities to prepare for going back to field work.

Test Your Knowledge

Countless exercises are available to improve balance/proprioception. In addition, numerous variations of those exercises can be prescribed. For example, you can balance on one foot or two, with eyes open or closed, etc. List as many balance exercise variations that you can think of (you may want to refer back to the exercises listed at the end of Chapter 1). Then, design a variable practice exercise for Darren given his current situational profile.

Answer

  • Seated vs. quadruped vs. standing vs. moving
  • Static vs. dynamic
  • Level of raise of non-supportive leg
  • Base of support
  • Position of line of gravity—weight shifts in multiple directions
  • Height of COG
  • Compliant/non-compliant surface
  • Shod vs. barefoot
  • Manipulation of different objects in different directions/heights
  • Head movements
  • Adding external resistance—tubing, dumbbells, medicine balls
  • Negotiating obstacles
  • Vary sensory information (e.g. distracted vision)
  • Degree of illumination
  • Even vs. uneven surfaces
  • Pace
  • Distance

Activity—Simulated Stream Crossing

Several objects could be positioned to simulate traversing from rock to rock as one might when crossing a stream. Variables that could be manipulated include positioning (path and distance), size, shape of the “rocks” including whether the surface was even or uneven, the speed at which the traverse is made, whether or not a pack is worn and/or hiking poles used, as well as the stability of the “rocks” themselves. (Note: safety is always the primary concern when designing activities; It is the practitioner’s responsibility to ensure that activities do not exceed the capabilities of their students, athletes, clients, or patients putting them in a potentially harmful situation).

Chapter 10

Practice Schedules

Useful Links

Sample challenge tasks for physical education
www.pecchallenge.org/challenges/challengelist.html
Instructional Video for Dartfish EasyTag
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc3GAdFu97I

Chapter 11

Interactive Lab

Quiz

Putting it into Practice

Hockey

Passing is a two-way street. Receiving the puck is just as important as executing a good pass. Jennifer observes that one of the players is having difficulty receiving the pass as the puck is consistently rebounding off of his stick. He appears to be in position but is either not ready when the puck comes or is holding the wrists stiff, causing the puck to rebound off the blade.

Test Your Knowledge

Describe the nature of the two possible errors identified in terms of motor learning. How would you diagnose which of the two is the actual cause of the problem observed in order to select the appropriate intervention strategy for its correction?

Answer

Although the player appears to be in position, he could be getting there late as a result of poorly anticipating either the temporal or spatial characteristics of the pass. Alternatively, he could be getting into position on time, but having difficulty with coinciding his motor response to match the arrival of the moving puck (coincident timing). These would both fall under the category of response selection and be attributed to perceptual and/or decision making errors. On the other hand, the error could be one of movement execution. If the stick is held rigid rather than giving a little to absorb the impact of the puck, poor technique is the likely cause of the error. The practitioner will need to determine if there is a timing problem or a technique issue.

Chapter 12

Interactive Lab

Quiz

Putting it into Practice

Balance and Proprioception

The physical therapist has added a variety of step-down activities to Darren’s rehab program (different heights, directions, landing surfaces, with and without a pack, etc.). While Darren is able to execute the movements, she notices that he is looking down, watching each step. This is a common error that occurs when proprioception is compromised.

Test Your Knowledge

Design an intervention activity that manipulates task constraints to help Darren take his eyes off of his feet and look straight ahead.

Answer

One example would be to ask Darren to identify how many fingers are being held up by the therapist as he steps down. Flash cards with numbers, colors, animals or a variety of household objects could also be used.

Chapter 12

Correcting Errors

Useful Links

Dartfish EasyTag app instructional video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc3GAdFu97I
Video example of biofeedback for posture improvement
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8qJT3RKhFE
Example of real time visual display for balance
www.tekscan.com/balance-tests-made-simple
Video clips for skill analysis
  1. Free throw
  2. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGustJB-caY&feature=plcp
  3. Cartwheel
  4. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RX-1svEWMI&feature=plcp
  5. Soccer pass
  6. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFs83cdHs9w&feature=plcp
  7. Volleyball serve
  8. www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5SaTdAzqAE&feature=plcp
  9. Volleyball pass
  10. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB77aHgsk7w&feature=plcp
  11. Walkover
  12. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F3gGwzFrlY&feature=plcp
Video example of the manipulation task constraints for learning the wrist snap in squash
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0KKKIkDkYk