Primitive reflexes is an automatic muscle reactions which are only present in the first few months, but can remain active in healthy children, thus, impacting on motor proficiency. There is little evidence how primitive reflexes influence on swimming skills acquisition by healthy children. The aim of the study is to examine how primitive reflexes influence swimming skills acquisition by healthy children. Subjects: two 7-year-old girls. Methods: Checklists by Oh et al., (2011) were used to evaluate swimming skill proficiency at swimming lesson 8 and 16. The results were represented as a percentage of the possible maximal score. The testing of the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex, the symmetrical tonic neck reflex, and the tonic labyrinthine reflex was done using Blythe’s, 5-point rating scale. The analysis was carried out using descriptive method. The first girl showed two reflexes at level 1, while the second girl demonstrated all tested reflexes at level 1, 2 and 3. The girl with less total score of reflexes (8%) achieved a better level of swimming proficiency (from 73% to 77%) than the girl with higher (25%) severity of these reflex (from 21% to 33%.). The obteined data evidence about influence of primitive reflexes on swimming skill acquisition by healthy children.
There are studies suggesting that primitive reflexes can remain active in healthy children. Formal backstroke teaching is a part of many aquatic curriculum program. Even though the links with a problem during swimming learning with retained primitive reflexes were mentioned, there are no studies about effect of different backstroke teaching methods in healthy children with residual primitive reflexes. Aim of the study is to define the effect of teaching methods for backstroke in healthy children with residual primitive reflexes. Subjects: 6-7 years old healthy children with residual primitive reflexes. Methods: A part practice backstroke teaching method for the first group (12 children) has been focused on teaching of separate components (leg kicks, arm pulls, and breathing) before fitting them together, while another 12 participants in second group learnt backstroke separate components of arm-to-leg integration before combining them together inside of cycle. After 12 weeks of practice backstroke proficiency and heart rate during maximal continuous backstroke swimming were analyzed. The obtained results show significant differences between the two groups. The results of the second group are linked with better backstroke proficiency, significantly longer swimming distance and lower heart rate during swimming.
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