Block practice encourages motor learning of dynamic balance skill in healthy young adults

Abstract

Introduction: The scheme of learning complex skills duringpractice affects motor performance [1, 3], however, not much isknown about the most efficient way to learn fundamental untrainedmotor skills. Locomotor skills such as walking, running, sitting andgetting up, involve temporarily optimal and precise dynamic move-ments of body weight displacement in frontal and sagittal planes[2, 4]. Purpose of this study was to determine if practice schememodifies motor learning of a dynamic balance skill in healthy youngsubjects. Methods: After sample power analysis, 63 universitystudents (20.63 62.58 years) without balance disorders andprevious training, participated in the study. They were randomlyassigned to 1 of 3 practice schedules (block “B,” random “R” orincreasing “I”). Learning task was to move body weight laterally ona platform of force according to visual feedback provided ona computer. Eighteen trials were carried out during acquisition,and again 24 hours later, during evaluation of retention of the skill.Force-load was manipulated between trials ranging from 35 to15% of body weight, in order to get contextual interference effect[6]. Outcome measures were execution errors and time of execu-tion (s) during acquisition and retention of the skill. Experimentalstudy, in accordance with Declaration of Helsinki, was approvedby Institutional Review Board (Universidad de las Ame´ricas, Ecua-dor), and participants gave informed consent.