Children’s Improvement of a Motor Response during Backward Falls through the Implementation of a Safe Fall Program

Abstract

The World Health Organization has warned that, in children, the second cause of death from unintentional injuries are falls. The objective of this study was to analyze the motor response of primary schoolchildren when a backwards fall occurs. These analyses occurred before and after interventions of the Safe Fall program, which aims to teach safe and protected ways of backward falling. A quasi-experimental research design was used, with a sample of 122 Spanish (Sevillian) schoolchildren in the 10–12 age bracket. The INFOSECA ad-hoc observation scale was used for data collection: this scale registers 5 essential physical reactions throughout the process of a safe and protected backwards fall. After that, a number of descriptive, correlational and contrast statistics were applied. The value used in the McNemar test to establish statistical significance was p < 0.05. Results showed that over 85% of students had developed the competence to correctly perform all five physical motions that allow for a safer backward fall. The teaching of safe and protected techniques for falling backwards in child population in Primary Education is possible through the implementation of the Safe Fall program in Physical Education classes, which can help making falls safer, diminishing the risk and severity of the injuries they cause.

Effects of Fall Training Program on Automatization of Safe Motor Responses during Backwards Falls in School-Age Children

“…The assessment included a baseline test to assess the children’s natural response to an unexpected backwards fall. The risk of injury was assessed using the Information Scale on Safe Ways of Falling observation scale, which identifies potentially harmful responses (PHR) during a fall [12]. During the test, the participants were placed in a squatting position on top of a polyurethane foam mattress by an assistant holding their arms.…”

“…The students were then released to fall backward on the mattress. The responses to the fall of five body parts (head, back, upper limbs, hips and knees) were assessed and scored [12]. The following gestures and positions were considered potentially harmful responses (PHR): head—lack of capacity to keep the head under control and close to the chin; back—landing on a flat back; upper limbs—extension towards the floor to stop the fall; hips—lack of bending towards the torso; knees—lack of flexing, landing with straight legs (Figure 1).…”

Assessing Rolling Abilities in Primary School Children: Physical Education Specialists vs. Generalists

“…Then, PRI attended specific training in rolling at the end of 10 consecutive lessons of physical education at school. The 10-min sessions were led by the specialist (teacher) twice a week, and the children were taught in rolls for a total of 100 min [43]. They underwent the testing protocol once more, which was further scored by the raters to assess the responsiveness of the InfoSAS in detecting changes induced by the brief period of training (post) compared to the status before being taught in rolls (pre).…”

“…Concerning the training effects, the comparisons of pre-and post-training scores (Table 2) also confirmed our hypothesis that the InfoSAS is suitable to detect improvements of rolling abilities when non-experts are taught by specific activities, even if for a relatively short time and volume (10 min in 10 consecutive lessons). In studies on falling ability, DelCastillo-Andres, et al [43] and Invernizzi, et al [65] used comparable amounts of practice to train rolling participants from primary and secondary school, respectively. Moreover, BA and OR fundamental skill scores highlight the higher benefits resulting from training sessions in both forward and backward rolling.…”

Susceptibility to Head Injury during Backward Fall with Side Aligning of the Body

“…Sci. 2020, 10, 8239 2 of 9 research methods have been devised which examine body movements on hitting the ground [15][16][17][18]. These nonapparatus methods describe fall movement patterns similar to those performed during a gymnastic backward roll.…”