ensitive periods in human ontogenesis

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PhD, Associate Professor Yu.M. Kabanov1
PhD, Associate Professor D.A. Venskovich1
Associate Professor V.V. Trushchenko1
V.A. Koloshkina1
1P.M. Masherov Vitebsk State University, Vitebsk, Republic of Belarus

Keywords: motor qualities, age-specific progress, sensitive/ critical period.

Background. Any consideration of the age-specific motor qualities progress profiles needs to take into account the following points. A few experimental studies [1-4] found that a human growth and development process goes through some periods of special sensitivity to environmental influences. These are the periods when certain motor functions, skills and qualities make progress. Such individual sensitive periods in the growth process are called critical or sensitive [2]. Knowing the individual critical periods and the optimal training models, one can prudently design the individual physical training and development system based on the progress-stage-specific key factors of ontogenesis [4].
Objective of the study was to analyze the sensitive periods and the age- and gender-specific development models for the 6-22 year olds based on an analysis of generalized age-specific motor qualities.
Methods and structure of the study. We made an analysis of the available research findings [1-4] of the Belarusian and Russian scientists in the physical education theory and practice and came up with new interpretations of the sensitive periods in the individual motor qualities development process.
Results and discussion. The 6-year-olds are generally tested with a fast progress in the running speed, dynamic strength and general movement coordination (pacing and timing) qualities, with the boys tested with particularly fast progress in dynamic strength and girls in the jumping movement coordination qualities. The period of 6 to 9 years is normally the time of the fast growth of body dimensions and chest size.
The 7-year-olds normally go through a few sensitive periods with the motor qualities progress peaks on a gender-specific basis, with the girls’ to boys’ sensitive periods reported at 10 to 6 ratio. The girls’ groups of this age are tested with the rapid growth in the jumping movement (long and high jumps) coordination, movement rhythm control, balancing and flexibility test rates. Both of the gender groups are normally tested with progresses in the speed, movement pacing and running movement coordination qualities.
The 8-year-old girls further progress in the speed, static endurance, jumping/ throwing movement coordination, MRC, movement pacing and timing test rates; whilst the boys progress in the speed-strength test rates. Both of the gender groups are also tested with growth in the movement pacing, latent motor response, general running movement coordination, movement rhythm control, balancing, flexibility and muscular tension control test rates.
The 9-year-old girls further grow in the single-movement speed, general strength, static/ dynamic endurance, throw movement coordination and body mass test rates; and the boys are tested with progress in the gymnastic/ acrobatic movement coordination, swimming skills and hurdle race tests. Both of the gender groups progress in the movement pacing, speed-strength, general endurance, running movement coordination, MRC, balancing, muscular tension control, movement pacing and timing, flexibility tests rates; and growth in the chest size indices.
The 10-year-old girls are tested with further growth in the movement pacing, static/ dynamic endurance, jumping/ throwing movement coordination, general coordination test rates and vital capacity indices; and boys grow fast in the high-intensity endurance, jumping/ gymnastic/ acrobatic movement coordination test rates and in the swimming/ cycling/ football/ hurdle race skills, MRC, and the movement pacing and timing qualities. Both of the gender groups show progress in the speed control, single-movement speed, latent motor response, speed-strength, general endurance, running movement coordination, precision movement controls, flexibility, muscular tension control test rates with the further chest size growth.
The 11-year-old girls go through a sensitive period associated with further progress in the speed, movement pacing, static/ dynamic/ sub-maximal-zone endurance, jumping/ throwing movement coordination, swimming skills, general movement coordination and flexibility test rates, with growth in the body dimensions; and the boys make further progress in the wide range of speed, single-movement control, jumping/ throwing movement coordination test rates, and in the cycling and football sports. Both of the gender groups further progress in the latent motor response, overall strength, speed-strength, moderate-/ high-intensity-zone general endurance, running movement coordination, balancing, precision movement controls test rates; plus growths in the body masses, chest size and vital capacity indices.
The 12-year-old girls are tested with progress in the static endurance, jumping/ throwing movement coordination, MRC and balancing qualities; whilst their male peers grow in the movement pacing, latent motor response, acrobatic/ throwing movement coordination qualities and in cycling and football sports. Both of the gender groups further grow in the general strength, general endurance, speed-strength, specific high-/ sub-maximal-zone endurance, running movement coordination, swimming skills, movement pacing and flexibility tests; with the further growths in the vital capacity rates.
The 13-year-old girls are tested with progresses in the speed, MRC, balancing qualities and muscle mass rates; and the boys are tested with growths in the movement pacing and speed, general strength, speed-strength and movement coordination in cycling and football sports, general coordination qualities and vital capacity indices. Both of the gender groups demonstrate progress in the general strength, speed-strength, general endurance and specific endurance in the motor response, running movement coordination/ speed and flexibility tests, plus progress in the body mass indices.
The 14-year-old girls are tested with further progress in the movement pacing/ speed, sub-maximal-zone endurance, varied jumping movement coordination, swimming skills, MRC, and the coordination qualities test rates, plus further growth in the body dimensions and muscle mass indices. The boys show progress in the speed control, dynamic moderate-/ sub-maximal-zone endurance, acrobatic/ throwing movement coordination, balancing and the cycling and football skills test rates; and growths in the vital capacity indices. Both of the gender groups are tested with progress in the general strength, speed-strength, general endurance, high-intensity specific endurance, jumping/ throwing movement coordination and flexibility test rates; plus growth in the chest size rates.
The 15-year-old girls are tested with progress in the movement pacing/ timing, high-/ sub-maximal-zone endurance, varied jumping movement coordination, difficult movement coordination, precision movement control qualities; and further growth in the body dimensions and muscle mass indices. Their male peers show progress in the speed, single-movement speed, acrobatic/ jumping/ throwing movement coordination, swimming and football skills test rates; and growths in the body dimensions and mass. Both of the gender groups are tested with progresses in the general strength, speed-strength, general endurance and static endurance, jumping movement coordination, movement pacing and flexibility test rates; plus growth in the chest size rates.
The 16-year-old girls are tested with fast progress in the static/ high/ sub-maximal/ maximal intensity endurance, varied movement coordination and specific complex coordination qualities; and their mail peers show progress in the single-movement speed/ controls, general endurance and specific endurance, running/ jumping/ acrobatic/ throwing movement coordination, general coordination and swimming skills test rates; with the further growth in the body dimensions and muscle mass indices. Both gender groups are tested with progress in the general strength, speed-strength, movement pacing and flexibility tests; plus growth in the chest size rates.
The 17-year-old girls go through a sensitive period in their motor qualities progress in the following aspects: high/ sub-maximal/ maximal intensity endurance, varied jumping movement coordination and flexibility test rates; and their male peers further progress in the single-movement speed and control, strength, swimming skills, speed-strength, moderate-intensity endurance, jumping/ acrobatic/ throwing movement coordination, complex movement coordination, balancing, precision movement controls, and the movement pacing/ timing tests; plus show progress in the body dimensions and muscle mass indices. The both gender groups are tested with progress in the general strength and static/ maximal endurance tests.
The 18-year-old girls further excel in the jumping movement coordination qualities; and their male peers are tested with further progress in the swimming skills, strength, static/ dynamic/ high/ sub-maximal/ maximal intensity endurance, complex movement coordination and the precision movement control test rates; and further growth in the body dimensions, chest size and muscle mass. The both gender groups are tested with progress in the general strength rates.
The 19-year-old girls are tested with further progress in the speed-strength test rates; and their male peers – in every intensity zone of the endurance tests. Both of the gender groups are tested with progress in the running movement coordination and general coordination test rates.
The 20-year-old males normally further progress in the specific endurance and high/ sub-maximal intensity endurance and acrobatic movement coordination qualities. Both of the gender groups are tested with progress in the general coordination rates.
The 21-year-olds are tested with the gender-unspecific progress in the general movement coordination qualities, with the males further progressing in the acrobatic movement coordination test rates. And the 22 year-olds further progress in the gender-unspecific speed-strength test rates.
Conclusion. The study data and analysis made it possible to profile the sensitive periods in a human ontogenesis and the age- and gender-specific motor qualities development models for the 6-22 year olds.

References
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Corresponding author: koloshkinava@mail.ru

Abstract
The article highlights the issues related to the development of man’s motor abilities during ontogenesis. The authors carried out a theoretical analysis of the data obtained by Belarusian and Russian scientists in the field of theory and methodology of physical culture, devoted to the study of the signs of the sensitive periods of development of man’s motor abilities. The analysis revealed that, at seven, the number of sensitive periods of development of motor abilities in both males and females increases; moreover, their number in females exceeds that in males, and this dynamics remains unchanged until the age of 11 in females and 12 - in males. At the age of 11, the number of signs of the sensitive periods in females reaches its maximum, after which it decreases significantly up to 13 years of age, which may be due to puberty. Males aged from 10 to 12 have a wavy dynamics in the quantitative signs of the sensitive periods, but it is weakly pronounced. In the period from 12 to 14 years, representatives of both sexes have the same number of signs of the sensitive periods. From 13 to 14, females and males are observed to have another increase in their number. Moreover, starting from 15, these indicators in males begin to exceed those in females. From the age of 14, there is a gradual decrease in the number of sensitive periods in representatives of both sexes. This dynamics will persist over subsequent age periods up to 22 years.