5.2 MOTOR SKILLS 73 What is involved in the javelin throw? Physical therapy techniques have been documented throughout history as a means of treating pain. In 460 BC, Hippocrates and the Romans were already writing about massage, manual therapy techniques, and hydrotherapy. COORDINATION Motor skills are the physical characteristics that allow humans to perform all types of movement. Basic motor skills include coordination, balance, strength, mobility, speed, and endurance, and they are closely interconnected. Skills and abilities refer to two different aspects: while skills have a genetic basis, abilities can be improved through training. Coordination can be defined as the ability to move our body efficiently and purposefully, i.e. in a way that preserves posture. It is the skill that lets us synchronise our muscles in order to carry out an action as appropriately as possible. The main brain structure that controls coordination is the cerebellum, which is the lower part of the brain that sends signals to muscles to move or keep a certain position. Types of coordination Coordination can be divided into three broad types. Fine motor coordination includes small movements and is the ease with which they are performed. Examples of fine motor skills are holding a pencil and writing, using scissors or, in sport, the movement of the hand when throwing a javelin . ONLINE RESOURCES Coordination disorders heel: tacco purposefully: risolutamente to restore: ripristinare to sew: cucire toe: dito del piede 144 SCIENCE AND PHYSICS Movement is the starting point for wiring the brain for learning. Gill Connell Gross motor coordination involves large, complex movements and several muscles, for example walking, kicking, jumping, etc. Hand-eye coordination is a perceptual skill developed in early childhood and refers to the ability of moving hands following the eyes, for example grasping objects, sewing, or doing any sport with an apparatus. How to improve coordination It is important to train coordination from early childhood. There are no specific activities to improve it, but engaging in physical activities that involve not just the body but also attention and concentration is essential for improving motor memory. In fact, certain exercises, when practised regularly, become automated by the brain, which will then be able to carry them out more easily. Coordination problems and physiotherapy People of all ages can have coordination problems and this condition can have a major impact on everyday life. These problems are called dyspraxia and are linked to a delay in the neuron development within the brain. Some of the symptoms can include frequent falls, perception difficulties, poor balance, and bad hand-eye coordination. Physiotherapy is a treatment that restores movements and functions of specific parts of the body when someone is affected by disability, illnesses, or injuries. The most common exercises are: muscle-strengthening exercises, which include exercises with weights and elastic bands; heel-to-toe walk, i.e. walking in a straight line with the heel of the front foot touching the toe of the standing foot; rope jumping with steady cadence and rhythm.