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 .
Motor performance and motor learning as a function of age and fitness.
Past studies have shown that electroencephalographic alpha activity increases as people learn to perform a novel motor task . Additionally , it has been suggested that motor performance and learning decline as people age beyond 60 years , and it has been hypothesized that physical fitness may attenuate this decline through its impact on the cerebral environment . This study was design ed to replicate past research by assessing changes in alpha activity as a function of learning and to extend past research by examining differences in motor performance , motor learning , and alpha activity as a function of age and fitness . VO2max was assessed in 41 older ( ages 60 - 80 years ) and 42 younger ( ages 20 - 30 years ) participants . Participants were r and omly assigned to experimental or control conditions , which differed in the amount of practice received . Participants performed trials on the mirror star trace on both an acquisition and a retention day . Results indicated that younger participants performed better and had greater learning than older participants . Fitness was not found to impact either performance or learning . Participants in the experimental group improved more than those in the control group and maintained this difference at retention , which suggests that learning occurred . Associated with these improvements in performance capabilities was an increase in alpha power
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 .