Michael Horvat

• EdD
• Professor at University of Georgia

Developmental and Adapted Physical Activity Assessment details the assessment process, explains how to use assessment data when making programming decisions, and reviews specific assessment tools for adapted physical educators and physical therapists. It describes assessment concepts and procedures and provides the information teachers need to accu...

This article reviews issues related to physical fitness and information processing capacities of individuals with mental retardation. The role of physical fitness and the ability to use information are related to increasing the functional capabilities of individuals with mental retardation. Research related to improving these capacities, and hence...

In this commentary, we highlight intriguing commonalities between the research areas of exercise and cognition and motor skill development and learning. While these two research domains have developed on separate tracks, the focus on variability of practice is central to both. We adopt a joint sport science and neuroscience approach to identify the...

Research with individuals with Down syndrome (DS) suggests that increasing strength and balance may lead to increases in independence and self-reliance. Taekwondo has been shown to increase strength and balance in typically developing (TD) individuals. A study was undertaken to determine whether Taekwondo training can improve lower body strength an...

Introduction. Understanding how exercise affects individuals with varying levels of functional ability will provide further insight into the role of exercise during the aging process. It will also aid in the development of exercise programs that are appropriate for a wider spectrum of older adults. Specifically it was the primary aim of this study...

Extensive research on the motor performance of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) and more specifically individuals with Down syndrome (DS) reflects performance deficits in physical and motor functioning. Earlier study, indicated that low levels of physical function and deficiencies in sensory processing, memory consolidation, and post...

Background/Purpose: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive loss of motor function, followed by behavioral, physiological, and cognitive modifications in a great proportion of patients. Cognitive function impairments are observed relatively early after the onset of PD and if not treated accordingly, can progress to dementia. Exerci...

Background/Purpose: Individuals with PD experience walking deficits, balance and posture alterations, muscular weakness and deconditioning, as well as progressive cognitive decline. Exercise has been proposed as an adjunctive therapy in PD treatment. However, there is still a lack of information regarding the optimal frequency of exercise training...

The understanding of prefrail and nonfrail older adults' postural control with and without increased environmental and cognitive stress is imperative to the development of targeted interventions to decrease fall risk within these populations. Thirty-eight individuals participated in this study. Postural control testing included the Sensory Organiza...

The understanding of pre-frail and non-frail older adults' postural control with and without increased environmental and cognitive stress is imperative to the development of targeted interventions to decrease fall risk within these populations. Thirty-eight individuals participated in this study. Postural control testing included the sensory organi...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of upper body strength assessments as predictors of one repetition maximum (1RM) strength among high school football athletes. Sixty-two male high school football athletes (13-18 yrs.) participated in this research and completed a 1 repetition maximum bench press (1RMBP), repetitions to...

The effect of contraction intensity (100%-, 75%-, 50%-, and 25%-maximum voluntary contraction [MVC]) and movement velocity (0°, 100°, 200°, 300°, and 400°/s) on the root mean square amplitude (SEMG-RMS) and median frequency power spectrum (SEMG-MPF) of the surface electromyography of the vastus medialis (VM) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles during i...

This investigation compared spatial and temporal gait movement parameters of a sample of individuals with Down syndrome (n = 12) and one of individuals without disabilities (n = 12). All participants were evaluated on responses to a preferred pace and fast walk with the GAITRite Electronic Walkway. Spatial outcomes included step and stride length,...

Effect of contraction intensity [100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)] and movement velocity [0° (isometric)], 50°, 100°, 200°, and 400°/sec. [isovelocities]) on root mean square amplitude (SEMG–RMS) and median frequency power spectrum (SEMG–MNF) of vastus lateralis (VL) surface electromyography was investigated with ten heal...

Falls are the most common cause of hospital admissions for trauma annually, and the leading cause of accidental death in adults over the age of 65. Falls risk is increased by vision loss. The ability to perform functional tasks and activities of daily living is known to be affected by age-related declines in cognition, balance, muscle function, str...

This investigation evaluated the use of sensory information in maintaining stability in individuals with intellectual disabilities. Individuals with mild intellectual disabilities (MID; n = 8), Down syndrome (DS; N = 8), and without intellectual disabilities (WID; n = 8) were evaluated with computerized posturography using the Sensory Organization...

This study explored the functional movement task of stepping up and over an obstacle in individuals with Parkinson's disease to their aged-matched controls. Ten participants with Parkinson's disease and 10 aged matched participants were assessed on the Step Up/Over task completed on a NeuroCom EquiTest long forceplate and analyzed using Group MANOV...

Evidence obtained from several research areas has led to renewed interest in the possible association between games that are performed under conditions requiring moderate-tovigorous physical activity and the emergence of children's executive function, which is the capacity to think before acting, the ability to retain information in mind, to reflec...

Loss of function and postural instability occur in Parkinson disease (PD). Dynamic exercise interventions are successful in improving motor control and physical function. However, most programs are based in a health facility or physical therapy setting and involve travel. With the limitations associated with PD (e.g. health care and medication cost...

This article evaluates the effectiveness of a resistance training program on meeting the physical demands of employment related skills. A 12-week resistance training program designed for individuals with intellectual disabilities was implemented twice a week at a high school and once per week in a community facility. At the completion of the progra...

Defining termsResearch investigating the effects of exercise on cognition among the developmentally disabledProblems to address and future research considerationsPractical applications and conclusions

The Eurofit Special Test is a battery of motor fitness tests resulting from a 10-year project of the Committee of Experts for Sports Research and is comprised of strength, speed, flexibility, and balance. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the Eurofit Special was able to distinguish variations in functioning among individuals with...

Individuals with vision loss are at an increased risk of falls. Understanding what factors contribute to postural instability within this population is a necessary step towards the development of physiotherapeutic programs targeted at reduction of falls within this population. Forty-six age-matched participants were evaluated with the sensory organ...

Examining the effects of fatigue on hamstrings' functioning can provide useful information regarding their role in stabilizing the knee joint. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effect of fatiguing, maximum effort, reciprocal isokinetic flexion-extension movements on peak torque (PT) and average torque (AVT) of the knee f...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that a repetitions-to-maximum test is a predicator of a 1 repetition maximum (1RM) performance for evaluating upper and lower body strength in women high school athletes. Fifty-seven high school athletes ages 14-18 participated in this study. All of the participants completed a 1RM bench (...

The purpose of this investigation was to assess movement capabilities of adults with visual impairments in comparison to sighted peers. Thirty participants (n = 15 visually impaired; n = 15 without vision loss) were age and gender matched and assessed on three functional movement measures. A Walk Across, Forward Lunge, and Sit to Stand were complet...

The relationship of muscular strength on work performance measures in high school students with mild mental retardation was investigated. Ten students from a self contained Special Education class were matched according to age, gender, height, and weight then randomly assigned to either the treatment group or control group. The treatment group part...

For many populations the ability to move efficiently is compromised by an impaired muscular functioning. Strength development is necessary to overcome the effects of gravity to maintain posture and generate movement responses for mobility. The strength and power capabilities of individuals with total blindness (n = 12) were compared to those with p...

For many populations the ability to move efficiently is compromised by an impaired muscular functioning. Strength development is necessary to overcome the effects of gravity to maintain posture and generate movement responses for mobility. The strength and power capabilities of individuals with total blindness (n=12) were compared to those with par...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of balance training on functional tasks in individuals with mental retardation. Ten students participated in a balance program 3 times weekly for 12 weeks. Functional assessments were performed prior to commencing the intervention and after completion of the balance program. Balance mea...

Despite inadequate empirical validation, sit-to-stand (STS) performance is often used as a proxy measure of lower limb strength among older adults. Furthermore, the relationships between bilateral isokinetic hip, knee, and ankle joint strength and their contributions to STS performances among older adults have not been established. The authors eval...

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the isokinetic strength characteristics of visually impaired with sighted individuals. Thirty age-matched participants who met the criteria for blind and partially sighted were matched according to age, height, and sex. Participants were evaluated on a Cybex Isokinetic dynamometer at speeds of 90 and...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a school-based physical education progressive resistance-training program on physical functioning and work productivity in individuals with mental retardation. Fourteen high-school participants were matched according to age, gender, height, and weight and then randomly placed into tr...

The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematics, muscle activation, and force production between Parkinson's patients and healthy, age-matched participants during sit-to-stand transfers. This cross-sectional study employed a 2x2x3 multivariate analysis of variance to test for significant differences between and within groups. The underlying...

This study was conducted to examine the intra-and interrater reliability of hand-held device's (HHD's) with individuals with spinal cord injury. The subjects in the study (N=24) were all military veterans and volunteered to be in the study. Each subject was tested bilaterally on three upper-body muscle groups, (biceps, triceps and wrist extension)...

This study analyzed various components and compensatory strategies of balance in individuals with visual impairments. It found that people with visual impairments use different strategies to maintain balance than do sighted people, in an effort to trade efficiency for safety.

The purpose of this study was to develop a regression equation capable of accurately predicting a 1 repetition maximum bench press in collegiate women athletes. The findings of this study could benefit future women athletes by providing coaches and trainers with an easy method of determining maximum upper body strength in women athletes. Sixty-five...

Reliability and concurrent validity of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children were evaluated with a sample of 106 boys and girls, distributed into four age groups: 5-6 yr. (n = 20), 7-8 yr. (n = 20), 9-10 yr. (n = 46), and 11-12 yr. (n = 20). Test-retest reliability of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, estimated using intraclass c...

Reliability and concurrent validity of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children were evaluated with a sample of 106 boys and girls, distributed into four age groups: 5–6 yr. (n = 20), 7–8 yr. (n = 20), 9–10 yr. (n = 46), and 11–12 yr. (n = 20). Test-retest reliability of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, estimated using intraclass c...

Previous investigations into the effects of aging on the auditory event-related potential (ERP) P300 have focused primarily on chronological age grouping. Discrepancies in both amplitude and latency of P300 have resulted. In the current investigation, 14 subjects were divided into two chronologically age matched groups (mean of 64.7 years) based on...

The purpose of this case study was to compare specific gait characteristics before and after knee replacement surgery. A 57-year-old male subject was evaluated before and after total knee replacement surgery while performing a sequence of normal gait cycles. Data were collected at two weeks pre-surgery, three months post-surgery and one year post-s...

This study investigated the effects of a supervised 10 week low-moderate resistance exercise program, followed by a 5 week unsupervised exercise program in community settings on thigh circumference (TC), peak torque (PT), and the median frequency of the electromyogram (MDF) of the quadriceps and hamstrings in older women. Thigh circumference measur...

The purpose of the study was to compare physical activity levels of children with and without mental retardation. Thirty-four children were assessed in an inclusive recess setting and monitored for heart rate, activity counts and observational activity levels. Based on the data analysis, boys demonstrated significantly higher values on all comparis...

Effect of a 4 s constant time delay (CTD) procedure on motor skill completion (MSC) durations was examined. Participants were 4 adolescents (3 males and 1 female) with severe intellectual disabilities, ages 16 to 19 years. A single-subject multiple probe design was used for experimental control. Duration data were visually inspected in the celerati...

The purpose of this study was to compare isokinetic knee (flexion and extension) strength of nondisabled youth (ND; 15 males, 15 females; males = 12.7 +/- 2 yr; females = 13.4 +/- 2 yr) and youths with mental retardations (MR, 17 males + 13 females; male = 14.7 +/- 2 yr; females = 13.6 +/- 2 yr). Subjects were evaluated on a Kin-Con isokinetic dyna...

The purpose was to investigate marketable features of the adapted physical education (APE) career in higher education. A total of 560 APE job openings (297 APE first priority and 263 APE second priority were identified from the Chronicle of Higher Education between 1975-1976 and 1997-1998. These data were analyzed by regression, chi-square, and des...

There has been a long-standing debate regarding the functions of play during childhood. An important, but neglected, first step in this debate entails documenting the costs associated with play. In this study we analysed energetic costs (expressed in terms of caloric expenditure) associated with physical play in four field experiments of play in pr...

Torque relationships of the knee extensors and flexors were examined in 17 boys and 13 girls with mental retardation (CA mean = 14.3, SD = 2.0) to evaluate whether isometric torque measures could be used to predict corresponding isokinetic torque measures, and to compare peak and average isometric and isokinetic torque measurements. Participants we...

For successful placement of individuals with mental retardation into community environments, a minimal amount of functional strength is required to promote self-independence. Since muscular strength and power are commonly deficient in these groups, the purpose of this study was to compare isokinetic elbow flexion and extension peak torque (Nm), ave...

Coincident timing by individuals who exhibit traumatic brain injury was measured under conditions of no knowledge of results (no KR; n = 12), KR on every trial (n = 14), summary KR (n = 13), and average KR (n = 12). Following acquisition trials, groups performed immediate and longer retention trials without KR. Absolute constant error and variable...

To compare isokinetic hamstring and quadriceps peak torque (Nm), average power (watts), and corresponding hamstring/quadriceps (HQ) ratios (as percentages) of adult men with Down syndrome(DS), with mental retardation without Down syndrome (NDS), and nondisabled sedentary controls (SC). Repeated measures analysis of variance. Subjects were tested at...

This paper provides a critical review of objective hand-held dynamometers (HHDs) in assessing muscle strength in children and individuals with disabilities. In the past few years, numerous studies have examined the reliability and validity of HHDs as an objective method of measuring muscle strength. However, the standardization of testing protocols...