Life Span Motor Development
Chapter 1: Fundamental Concepts
Development
It’s a continuous process of change in functional capacity. Functional capacity the
capability to exist- live, move and work- in the real world. cumulative process.
Development is related to (but not dependent on) age.
o Individuals do not necessarily advance in age and advance in development at the same
rate. Development does not stop at a particular age but rather continuous throughout
life.
Development involves sequential change. one step leads to the next step. Interaction
between individuals/ individuals and the environment.
Individuals functions in a variety of arenas, including physical, social, cognitive and
psychological for example: cognitive-/social development.
Motor development: refers to the continuous, age-related process of change in movement
as well as the interacting constraints (or factors) in the individual environment, and task that
drive these changes.
Motor learning: refers to the relatively permanent gains in motor skill capability associated
with practice or experience (Schmidt).
Motor behavior: when we prefer not to distinguish between motor learning and
motor development or when we want to include both.
Motor control: Is the study of the neural, physical, and behavior aspects of movement
(Schmidt).
Physical growth: is an increase in size of body mass resulting from an increase in complete, already
formed body parts.
Physiological maturation: Is a qualitative advance in biological makeup and may refer to cell, organ,
or system advancement in biochemical composition rather than to size alone.
>the state of optimal functional integration of an individual’s body systems and the ability to
reproduce. Development continuous long after physical maturity is reached. Physiological change
does not stop at the end of the physical growth period. Rather, it can occur throughout life.
Physiological change tends to be slower after the growth period but nevertheless remains
prominent.
Aging: is the process, occurring with the passage if time, that leads to loss of adaptability or full
function and eventually to death.
Chapter 1: Fundamental Concepts
Development
It’s a continuous process of change in functional capacity. Functional capacity the
capability to exist- live, move and work- in the real world. cumulative process.
Development is related to (but not dependent on) age.
o Individuals do not necessarily advance in age and advance in development at the same
rate. Development does not stop at a particular age but rather continuous throughout
life.
Development involves sequential change. one step leads to the next step. Interaction
between individuals/ individuals and the environment.
Individuals functions in a variety of arenas, including physical, social, cognitive and
psychological for example: cognitive-/social development.
Motor development: refers to the continuous, age-related process of change in movement
as well as the interacting constraints (or factors) in the individual environment, and task that
drive these changes.
Motor learning: refers to the relatively permanent gains in motor skill capability associated
with practice or experience (Schmidt).
Motor behavior: when we prefer not to distinguish between motor learning and
motor development or when we want to include both.
Motor control: Is the study of the neural, physical, and behavior aspects of movement
(Schmidt).
Physical growth: is an increase in size of body mass resulting from an increase in complete, already
formed body parts.
Physiological maturation: Is a qualitative advance in biological makeup and may refer to cell, organ,
or system advancement in biochemical composition rather than to size alone.
>the state of optimal functional integration of an individual’s body systems and the ability to
reproduce. Development continuous long after physical maturity is reached. Physiological change
does not stop at the end of the physical growth period. Rather, it can occur throughout life.
Physiological change tends to be slower after the growth period but nevertheless remains
prominent.
Aging: is the process, occurring with the passage if time, that leads to loss of adaptability or full
function and eventually to death.
