BIOMECHANICAL REFLECTIONS ON TEACHING FAST MOTOR SKILLS

Learning to perform a novel movement is believed to require the formation of an internal motor memory model in the central nervous system. This internal model is subsequently used to control the movement, i.e. coordinate muscle generated moments with nonmuscle generated moments in order to execute the intended movement. A substantial part of the non-muscle generated moments acting on each segment in a fast unloaded movement arises due to movement of adjacent segments. If a complex novel movement is taught either in slow motion or by splitting it into partial movements, these intersegmental moments will not be present, and hence not accounted for in the internal motor memory model. It is suggested that coaches take this into account when methods for teaching fast motor skills are considered.