Antropomotoryka nr 57 [2012]. - Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego ...

Marta Wieczorektion on children aged 7 to 10 years in terms of dynamicasymmetry, Koszczyc [3] finds that fitness shown bythe right side of the body is better than in the left sideand the difference in fitness of the right and left sideincreased with age. Similar results were obtained byWolański and Siniarska [12] in a study performed onPolish population aged 2–80 years. Drabik [11] pointsout substantial reversal in the direction of functionalasymmetry from undetermined to determined in childrenaged 9–13 years. Stokłosa [14] in an investigationon girls and boys aged 7 to 15 years with regard todevelopment of functional asymmetry claims that withage the number of individuals representing determinedlateralization with predominance of rightward lateralization,both relating to the hand, eye and foot, andthus the number of persons with a homogeneous rightwardprofile increases. Similar results were obtainedby Wokroj [13] in her research on individuals aged 4to 80 years. Wieczorek and Hradzki [15] in their studyon boys aged 14 to 16 years discovered that in termsof functional asymmetry changes in settling of the profileare still present, and that significant changes of thesize of dynamic asymmetry take place, even thoughthe subjects were examined at an age in which, basedon literature, the process of lateralization should becompleted. Bogdanowicz reported, however, that inmales the process of lateralization is completed muchlater, which is connected with delayed adolescentprocesses, as compared with girls and their nervoussystem that only reaches full anatomical and physiologicalmaturity at the age of 20 years [4]. Rzepa andWójcik [17] conducted research among 6- to 10-yearoldsin the area of changes in functional asymmetry inrelation to its stimulation through motor activities witheducational balls. The results indicate that determineddirections of hand, eye and foot asymmetry becomingestablished with age, and these processes were morevivid in the experimental group exposed to the appropriatefactor developing lateralization with the use ofa specific tool.The comparison of results of the present studyto those found in the literature on the subject showssimilar tendencies. The results confirm that in 10- to12-year-olds the process of lateralization takes place,which seems to be in line with the results obtainedby other authors presented above. The percentage ofsubjects presenting determined directions and profilesof functional asymmetry increases with age. In 10- to12-year-olds, significant dynamic asymmetry occurredto be particularly noticeable in terms of movementvelocity and muscle strength of the upper limbsbut in the period of two years, no significant changespertaining to its level took place. Having analyzedthese results it may be said that functional asymmetrydevelops faster and more intensely, yet dynamicasymmetry presents a significant level; however, itssize is not substantially modified between the age of10 and 12 years in the examined boys. With regard tothe normality in nervous system development [4] andfigures obtained by Wieczorek and Hradzki in adolescentsaged 14 to 16 years [15] we may believe that insubsequent years of life the level of dynamic asymmetryof strength and velocity of the right and left sideof the body increase.ConclusionsThe biggest transformations in physical, mental, andmotor development take place in the scholastic periodof children and adolescents. Thus, a teacher shouldbe aware of functional changes in a child’s developmentoccurring at different stages of life. Depending ona student’s age, motor experiences, as well as status ofmotor maturity and health, a teacher should apply adequatemeans and methods to determine the state andchanges of development. Lateralization is among theregularities of development. Evaluation of lateralizationis particularly indispensable for diagnosing studentswho show speech disorders, motricity disorders, or difficultiesin learning to read and write. When diagnosinglateralization, teachers should bear in mind the child’sage, sex, evaluation of manual motricity, and orientationof the right and left side of the body.The study and analysis of obtained results enabledthe achievement of the objective of the present paper.Changes taking place in functional and dynamicasymmetry in boys aged 10 to 12 years in the aspectof continuous research on the same study group havebeen identified. On the basis of the analysis of obtainedresults, the following conclusions may be formulated:during a 2-year period in the group of examined boys,significant changes occurred pertaining to the orientationof motor and sense organs and thus in terms of determinedprofiles of functional asymmetry. An increasein the size of functional diversity of limbs in velocity andstrength took place; however, changes in the level ofdynamic asymmetry in these motor skills occurred tobe statistically insignificant. Taking the longer view,a postulate may be formulated that the observation anddiagnosing of lateralization seems to be an extremely– 80 –