The unrealised value of human motion – ‘moving back to movement!’

Abstract

The unrealised and under-estimated value of human motion in human development, functioning and learning is the central cause for its devaluation in Australian society. This paper provides a greater insight into why human motion has high value and should be utilised more in advocacy and implementation in health and education, particularly school health and physical education. It will illuminate where the impact of human motion is taken for granted and undervalued. It will also reveal compelling research findings from a range of disciplines not traditionally included in the field that support motion's value to human existence across the lifespan. The current human motion paradigm needs strengthening with more rigour and comprehensive elucidation of the powerful omnipresence of human motion in healthy human existence. This emerging new body of evidence presents an unprecendeted opportunity for the profession to do this. In doing so, it will provide greater support and opportunity for education and health professionals to utilise as much human motion as possible for people living and learning over their entire lifespans, particularly benefitting children and youth in education institutions.

Keywords:

• Human Motion Paradigm
• Human Development and Functioning
• Learning
• Brain Plasticity
• Mind-body Dualism
• Health and Physical Education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributor

Graham Dodd is a retired Senior Lecturer & Program Director of Secondary HPE/Human Movement at the University of South Australia. He is a fellow and Life member of ACHPER. He is the Founder & Chair of TriSkills Australia and Vice-President of ACHPER National. His current focus is on the emergent and compelling research connecting human motion, cognitive (brain) development, enhanced learning and optimal human functioning to strengthen the human motion paradigm underpinning professional practices utilising human motion for individuals across the lifespan, especially in education institutions.