Results concerning the association of chronic physical activity and motor performance are mixed and seem to be influenced by the study design , kind of exercise , motor task , and exercise intensity .
Regarding motor learning , a high physical activity or cardiovascular fitness level seems to boost the initial phase of motor learning ; results differ with respect to motor retention .
Overall , ( motor-coordinative ) intervention studies seem to be more promising than cross-sectional studies
Upper extremity motor performance declines with increasing age .
However , older adults need to maintain , learn new and relearn known motor tasks .
Research with young adults indicated that regular and acute physical activity might facilitate motor performance and motor learning processes .
Therefore , this review aim ed to examine the association between chronic physical activity and acute bouts of exercise on motor performance and motor learning in upper extremity motor tasks in older adults .
Exercise Mode Moderates the Relationship Between Mobility and Basal Ganglia Volume in Healthy Older Adults.
OBJECTIVES To examine whether 12 months of aerobic training ( AT ) moderated the relationship between change in mobility and change in basal ganglia volume than balance and toning ( BAT ) exercises in older adults . DESIGN Secondary analysis of a r and omized controlled trial . SETTING Champaign-Urbana , Illinois . PARTICIPANTS Community-dwelling older adults ( N=101 ; mean age 66.4 ) . INTERVENTION Twelve-month exercise trial with two groups : AT and BAT . MEASUREMENTS Mobility was assessed using the Timed Up and Go test . Basal ganglia ( putamen , cau date nucleus , pallidum ) was segmented from T1-weighted magnetic resonance images using the Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain Software Library Integrated Registration and Segmentation Tool . Measurements were obtained at baseline and trial completion . Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to examine whether exercise mode moderates the relationship between change in mobility and change in basal ganglia volume over 12 months . Age , sex , and education were included as covariates . RESULTS Exercise significantly moderated the relationship between change in mobility and change in left putamen volume . Specifically , for the AT group , volume of the left putamen did not change , regardless of change in mobility . Similarly , in the BAT group , those who improved their mobility most over 12 months had no change in left putamen volume , although left putamen volume of those who declined in mobility levels decreased significantly . CONCLUSION The primary finding that older adults who engaged in 12 months of BAT training and improved mobility exhibited maintenance of brain volume in an important region responsible for motor control provides compelling evidence that such exercises can contribute to the promotion of functional independence and healthy aging
Results concerning the association of chronic physical activity and motor performance are mixed and seem to be influenced by the study design , kind of exercise , motor task , and exercise intensity .
Regarding motor learning , a high physical activity or cardiovascular fitness level seems to boost the initial phase of motor learning ; results differ with respect to motor retention .
Overall , ( motor-coordinative ) intervention studies seem to be more promising than cross-sectional studies
Upper extremity motor performance declines with increasing age .
However , older adults need to maintain , learn new and relearn known motor tasks .
Research with young adults indicated that regular and acute physical activity might facilitate motor performance and motor learning processes .
Therefore , this review aim ed to examine the association between chronic physical activity and acute bouts of exercise on motor performance and motor learning in upper extremity motor tasks in older adults .