Completed projects

A large number of epidemiological studies show that the frequency of falls increases significantly with advancing age. Almost ¼ of people over 65 fall at least once a year. Among the over 75s, the frequency increases to over 40% (Granacher, Gruber & Gollhofer, 2009). The consequences are serious both for those who fall in the form of a reduced quality of life and for the healthcare system in terms of the financial costs associated with falls. The causes of falls are manifold, such as muscular weaknesses, impaired balance, impaired vision, reduced motor control, loss of coordination or cognitive dysfunction.

Studies investigating suitable fall prevention methods have so far demonstrated positive effects of strength training (e.g. Granacher, Muehlbauer & Gruber, 2012), sensorimotor training and balance training (e.g. Steadman, Donaldson & Kalra, 2003), as well as dancing and tai chi (Granacher, Muehlbauer, Bridenbaugh, Wolf, Roth, Gschwind, Wolf, Mata & Kressig, 2012). Little is known about the effects of a combination of balance training and strength training, in particular weight training with instability, on fall prevention.

We assume that load training under unstable conditions achieves greater effects (reduction of fall risk factors) than 'traditional' strength training due to the additive effects of strength and balance training.

Project management: Claudia Classen & Prof. Dr. Armin Kibele

This project investigates the question of whether movement learning can be understood as a special case of implicit learning. Based on various research approaches in movement science, which repeatedly refer to implicit learning processes, an integrative theory of (implicit) movement learning was developed, which includes components of traditional program theories as well as aspects of more recent action theories and, as a completely new element, establishes a substantive proximity to implicit learning. According to this theory, the motor adaptations that form the basis of exercise-related and lasting skill acquisition occur unconsciously. Conscious representations of the newly acquired movement skill can be built up in parallel, but they do not have to be. In the three sub-studies with four experiments conducted on this topic, the research method, the framework conditions and the effects of implicit learning of a vertical jump with lunge were examined. The subjects were asked to optimize movement characteristics without knowing how many or which movement characteristics were relevant and to what extent. The results suggest that implicit movement learning can also take place without knowledge of an underlying regularity and that this learning produces more stable effects than learning the movement with explicit knowledge of the required characteristics. Experimental findings are still pending for the question of whether implicit learning can also take place in complex visual stimulus environments. To this end, reaction time experiments are being carried out on the computer using special software for implicit learning (SIMPLE suite) in order to test whether implicit identification of various stimulus features leads to shorter reaction times after a longer learning phase.

Publications:

• Kibele, A. (2001): Unconscious information processing ? a topic for sports science?! Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
• Kibele, A. (2001): Implicit movement learning. Spectrum of Sport Science 13, 7-26.
• Kibele, A. (2003). Implicit learning. H. Mechling & J. Munzert (Eds.): Handbuch Bewegungswissenschaft ? Bewegungslehre (pp. 243-261). Schorndorf: Hofmann.

In sporting situations, we visually perceive a variety of movement information. This information consists of spatial features such as positions and running paths of teammates and opponents in sports games, trajectories of balls, attacking and defensive actions of the opponent in martial arts, etc.. This visually perceived movement information is integrated into one's own action planning. The integration into one's own action control can take place completely automatically, i.e. unconsciously. This is particularly relevant when quick reactions to changing environmental situations are required, as is often the case in sport. The influence of visually perceived movement characteristics on the observer's action control is the subject of this research project. Previous findings have been limited to linear movements (from right to left and vice versa) and very simple stimulus environments (movements of simple geometric elements, point clouds, light point runners, etc.) (e.g. Bosbach, 2004, Wittfoth et al., 2006). Here, these findings are extended by other types of movement (rotational movements and depth movements) as well as simple (movements of a circle/sphere) and complex stimulus environments (real movements of an athlete). For this purpose, reaction time experiments were developed using the Simon paradigm. The results show that intended spatially compatible actions (right or left or proximal or distal key press) are induced by the visual perception of rotational movements as well as of depth movements, which is reflected in shorter reaction times. The complexity of the stimulus event does not play a role here. Further studies are planned to examine the relevance of automatically induced action tendencies for action situations in sport.

KSV Hessen Kassel began preparations for the 2014/2015 regional league season on Tuesday. While head coach Matthias Mink welcomed the team to a first session on Monday afternoon, training continued on Tuesday with the obligatory performance diagnostics before training intensified.

In addition to lactate performance diagnostics (carried out by Dr. Dr. Vater), various sprint, jump and speed tests were also carried out under the supervision of the Training & Movement department under the direction of Prof. Dr. Kibele.

The Institute of Sport and Sport Science wishes the 1st team (men) of KSV Hessen Kassel a successful start to the 2014/15 season.