Trends in physical activity,health-related fitness,and gross motor skills in children during a two-year comprehensive school physical activity program

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to examine the trends in school-day step counts, health-related fitness, and gross motor skills during a two-year Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) in children.

Physical activity types and motor skills in 3-5-year old children: National Youth Fitness Survey

ObjectiveThis study examined relationships between specific types of physical activity (PA) and motor skill development in preschool-aged children.DesignThis study was completed using a cross-sectional study design.MethodsData from children 3−5 years old (N = 342, 51% males) who participated in the 2012 National Youth Fitness Survey were analyzed. PA was measured using a questionnaire by parent report and motor skill development determined by Test of Gross Motor Development-2nd Edition (TGMD-2). Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between PA type and overall Gross Motor Quotient (GMQ) controlling for age, sex, race, and parental socioeconomic status.ResultsCommonly reported activities were running (43%), playing outdoor games (35%), and riding a bike (34%). Based on the standard scores, participants’ motor skill development for Locomotor, Object Control, and overall GMQ were considered average. Participation in the following physical activities were positively associated with GMQ: riding a bike (β (SE) = 5.27 (2.02), p = 0.02), scooter riding (β (SE) = 9.83 (2.59), p = 0.002), swimming (β (SE) = 4.01 (1.17), p = 0.004), and jumping on a trampoline (β (SE) = 7.45 (3.09), p = 0.03). With the exception of riding a bike, the physical activities positively related to GMQ had a reported range of participation between 7–12%.ConclusionsParticipation in specific physical activities was related to higher GMQ in preschool-aged children. Also, with the exception of riding a bike, the activities that the children participated in the most were not the same as the activities that were positively related to motor skill development.     

Identifying a motor proficiency barrier for meeting physical activity guidelines in children

Objectives

This study examined the existence of a threshold level (proficiency barrier) of actual motor competence (MC) below which a child is not likely to attain 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day.

Child,family and environmental correlates of children's motor skill proficiency

ObjectivesTo identify factors associated with children's motor skills.DesignCross-sectional.MethodsAustralian preschool-aged children were recruited in 2009 as part of a larger study. Parent proxy-report of child factors (age, sex, parent perception of child skill, participation in unstructured and structured activity), self-report of parent factors (confidence in their own skills to support child's activity, parent–child physical activity interaction, parent physical activity) and perceived environmental factors (play space visits, equipment at home) were collected. Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer) and motor skills (Test of Gross Motor Development-2) were also assessed. After age adjustment, variables were checked for association with raw object control and locomotor scores. Variables with associations of p < 0.20 were entered into two multiple regression models with locomotor/object control as respective outcome variables.ResultsMotor skills were assessed for 76 children (42 female), mean [SD] age = 4.1 [0.68]; 71 completed parent proxy-report and 53 had valid MVPA data. Child age, swimming lessons, and home equipment were positively associated explaining 20% of locomotor skill variance, but only age was significant (β = 0.36, p = 0.002). Child age and sex, unstructured activity participation, MVPA%, parent confidence, home equipment (all positively associated), and dance participation (inversely associated) explained 32% object control variance. But only age (β = 0.67, p < 0.0001), MVPA% (β = 0.37, p = 0.038) and no dance (β = ?0.34, p = 0.028) were significant.ConclusionMotor skill correlates differ according to skill category and are context specific with child level correlates appearing more important.     

Correlation between BMI and motor coordination in children

Objectives: To analyze the association between motor coordination (MC) and body mass index (BMI) across childhood and early adolescence. Design: This study is cross-sectional. Methods: Data were collected in 7175 children (boys n = 3616, girls n = 3559), ages 6–14 years. BMI was calculated from measured height and weight [body mass (kg)/height (m²)]. Motor coordination was evaluated using Kiphard-Schilling's body coordination test (KTK). Spearman's rank correlation was used to study the association between BMI and MC. A Kruskal–Wallis test was used to analyze the differences in MC between children of normal weight, overweight and obese children. Results: Correlations between MC and BMI were negative and varied between 0.05 and 0.49. The highest negative correlations for both boys and girls was at 11 years of age. There was a general pattern of increasing negative correlations in both genders from 6 to 11 years of age and then a decrease in correlation strengths through 14 years of age. In both boys (χ²₍₂₎ = 324.01; p < 0.001) and girls (χ²₍₂₎ = 291.20; p < 0.001) there were significant differences in MC between the three groups’ weight status. Normal weight children of both sexes demonstrated significantly higher MC scores than overweight. Obese children in both sexes had the lowest MC scores among all three groups. Conclusion: Motor coordination demonstrated an inverse relationship with BMI across childhood and into early adolescence. The strength of the inverse relation increased during childhood, but decreased through early adolescence. Overweight and obese children of both sexes demonstrated significantly lower MC than normal weight children.     

Are children with higher self-reported wellbeing and perceived motor competence more physically active? A longitudinal study

ObjectivesSelf-perceptions such as perceived motor competence and psychosocial wellbeing have been identified as important to children’s physical activity. The study’s purpose was to explore whether perceived motor competence and psychosocial wellbeing were determinants of physical activity, one year after a baseline assessment.DesignLongitudinal study.MethodsA total of 134 children (65.7% boys, 34.3% girls) aged 6–7 years at baseline (2016), and 7–8 years at follow-up (2017) were included in this study. Pearson’s correlations assessed associations at baseline and follow-up between moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) (accelerometers) and (i) total perceived motor competence and subdomains (the pictorial scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence) and (ii) psychosocial wellbeing and sub-domains — KidKINDL KINDer Lebensqualitätsfragebogen: Children Quality of Life Questionnaire (KINDL^R). Variables identified as significant in Pearson’s correlations were included in mixed model analyses, adjusting for accelerometer wear time, sex and age.ResultsBaseline perceived object control skills was associated with MVPA at follow-up (r = 0.38, p < 0.001), but perceived locomotor skills were not. Self-esteem was the only subdomain of psychosocial wellbeing that demonstrated significant association with MVPA at baseline (r = 0.21, p < 0.05). Perceived object control (B = 1.36, p = 0.019, 95% CI [0.23, 2.50]) and self-esteem (B = 0.32, p = 0.001, 95% CI [0.13, 0.50]) positively predicted MVPA; albeit with small effects.ConclusionsFocusing on improving children’s perceived object control and self-reported self-esteem may contribute to children’s physical activity participation.     

Longitudinal associations of fundamental movement skills with objectively measured physical activity and sedentariness during school transition from primary to lower secondary school

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate cross-lagged associations of leaping skill and throwing–catching skills with objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time (ST) during school transition from upper primary (Grade 6) to lower secondary school (Grade 7).

The A + FMS cluster randomized controlled trial: An assessment-based intervention on fundamental movement skills and psychosocial outcomes in primary schoolchildren

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of an assessment-based intervention that emphasizes fun, mastery, and support (A + FMS) on primary schoolchildren’s fundamental movement skills (FMS), perceptions of physical and movement skill competence, teacher support and enjoyment.DesignCluster randomized controlled trial.MethodsTen clusters (classes) (n = 282; mean age 8.4 years, SD 0.56) were randomised to the A + FMS or wait-list control group in a 1:1 ratio. Teachers in the A + FMS group were required to attend six hours of training and integrate 550 min of assessment for learning strategies into their PE lessons for up to a maximum of 13 weeks. FMS competence in jump, skip, hop, overhand throw, dribble and catch was the primary outcome assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3rd Edition. Secondary outcome measures included perceptions of physical and FMS competence, teacher support, and student enjoyment using questionnaires. Multilevel modelling for the analysis of clustered data was used to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.ResultsSignificant intervention effects were found for locomotor skills (adjusted mean difference, 2.47 units; Cohen’s d = 0.76), overall FMS competence (3.72 units; Cohen’s d = 0.93) and perceived teacher support (0.21 units; Cohen’s d = 0.05). However, there was a group-by-time effect for perceived physical competence (−0.16 units; Cohen’s d = −0.07) in favouring of the control group.ConclusionsAn assessment-based teacher-led FMS intervention was effective in improving FMS proficiency in primary schoolchildren. The results highlight the need for increased teacher support to develop positive self-perceptions of competence while promoting children’s FMS.Trial registration CUHK_CCRB00479.     

Direction of single obstacle circumvention in middle-aged children

When required to walk around a stationary object, adults use the location of the goal to set up their locomotor axis and obstacles presented along the locomotor axis will repel the individual towards the side that affords more space [1]. Research has yet to examine whether children can identify the locomotor axis and choose their paths accordingly. Therefore, the current study examined the factors that influence the direction in which children choose to deviate around a single obstacle and whether the presence or absence of a goal influences path selection and trajectory. Ten children (age: 7.1 years ±0.8) walked along a 9 m path and avoided a single obstacle that was located in one of three locations (midline, 15 cm to the right or 15 cm to the left). On half the trials, an end-goal was visible from the start of the path while the other half of the trials had no visible goal. The results demonstrate that: (1) children are able to perceive and move towards more open space but are more variable when the end-goal is not visible; (2) children are capable of maintaining an elliptical-shaped protective envelope when avoiding a single obstacle regardless of whether or not the locomotor axis is established; and (3) although children are capable of choosing paths that afford the most space, the manner in which they arrive at their goal is not driven by factors similar to adults.     

Longitudinal associations among cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness,motor competence and objectively measured physical activity

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate cross-lagged associations in motor competence, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness and accelerometer-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) engagement.DesignOne-year prospective follow-up study.MethodsA sample was 491 (275 girls; M at baseline = 11.27, SD = .32) Finnish physical education students. Students’ motor competence was assessed by (1) two-legged jumping from side to side test, (2) throwing-catching combination test and (3) 5-leaps test. Their cardiorespiratory fitness was analyzed by a 20-m shuttle run test and muscular fitness by curl-up and push-up tests. Additionally, students’ MVPA was measured objectively by hip-worn accelerometers.ResultsResults demonstrated that: (1) cardiorespiratory fitness measured at Grade 5 was the only significant predictor of later MVPA and this association appeared only in the boys’ group, (2) MVPA assessed at Grade 5 significantly predicted cardiorespiratory fitness in the girls’ group, (3) cardiorespiratory fitness collected at Grade 5 associated with muscular fitness, locomotor and stability skills in both girls and boys, and (4) locomotor skills measured at Grade 5 predicted significantly muscular fitness, locomotor and manipulative skills in both sex groups.ConclusionsElementary school years are important in providing students with experiences in physical activity (PA) which leads to improvements s in cardiorespiratory health. Additionally, this study showed that cardiorespiratory fitness collected at Grade 5 associated with later muscular fitness, and locomotor and stability skills in both sex groups. These findings are noteworthy because muscular fitness in youth has several health-related benefits and motor competence in childhood and adolescence has positive association with later PA engagement.     

Fundamental movement skills among Australian preschool children

Early childhood is a critical period for the development of fundamental movement skills (FMS). Children who do not master FMS are more likely to experience failure in the motor domain and less likely to participate in sport and games during childhood and adolescence. Studies among primary school aged children report low levels of FMS mastery indicating the need to implement FMS programs during the preschool years. Cross-sectional study of 425 children attending preschools in the Sydney, Australia in 2008. FMS were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 including locomotor (run, gallop, hop, horizontal jump) and object control (strike, catch, kick overhand throw) skills. Data were analysed using linear regression and chi-squared analyses. Total locomotor score was higher among girls compared with boys (p < 0.00); however only the hop was significantly different (p = 0.01). Boys had higher total (p < 0.00) and individual object control scores compared with girls, except the catch (p = 0.6). The prevalence of mastery differed across each FMS. Girls generally had higher mastery of locomotor skills and boys had higher mastery of object control skills. These findings highlight the need to provide structured opportunities which facilitate children's acquisition of FMS, which may include providing gender separated games, equipment and spaces. That mastery of FMS is low in primary school children indicates the importance of early intervention programs in preschools. Preschools and child care centers hold promise as a key setting for implementing FMS programs.     

Psychometric proprieties of the Test of Gross Motor Development–Third Edition in a large sample of Italian children

ObjectivesThe Test of Gross Motor Development-3 (TGMD-3) evaluates fundamental gross motor skills across two domains: locomotor and ball skills. This study aimed to perform a full psychometric assessment of this test in a large sample of Italian pre- and primary school children.DesignCross-sectional and test-retest study design.MethodChildren N = 5210; mean age years = 8.38, SD = 1.97; % females = 48 completed three trials, including one practice. Only the scores of the two latter ‘formal’ trials were recorded for the evaluation. Factorial validity and measurement invariance of TGMD-3 across age and gender groups and test-retest reliability for the overtime measure consistency were tested. Item response theory analysis further tested single items’ performances.ResultsExplorative and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the two-factor structure of the TGMD-3. Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses indicated that there were no significant reductions in model adjustments between the configural, metric and structural invariance solutions for gender and age groups. Test-retest results ranged between 0.967 and 0.990 for both skill sets across age groups. Item response theory analysis using a graded response model showed low standard error and high-test information levels covering a wide spectrum range of both locomotor and ball skills.ConclusionsThese results highlight the strong construct validity and reliability of the TGMD-3 to measure gross motor skills in children across gender and age groups. Item response theory analysis evidenced how the performance criteria included in this test cover a wide range of gross the motor skills spectrum. The use of TGMD-3 may inform motor development programs and support curricular decisions in schools.     

Quantification of upper body movements during gait in older adults and in those with Parkinson’s disease: impact of acceleration realignment methodologies

The upper body accelerations of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) measured by inertial measurement units (IMUs) may contribute towards diagnostic algorithms and help track disease progression. Before extracting variables related to upper body motion, acceleration signals require realignment to a global reference; however, the impact of these techniques on the resulting upper body variables is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to examine the impact of four different realignment methods designed to correct acceleration signals on a range of upper body variables in older adults and in patients with PD. Two minutes of continuous gait were measured in 54 community-dwelling older adults (71.1 ± 6.7 years) and 60 people with PD (age: 68.5 ± 9.1 years). Three IMUs placed on the 5th lumbar vertebra, 7th cervical vertebra and the back of the head recorded the acceleration of the upper body. A selection of upper body variables sensitive to impaired upper body control in PD and four acceleration realignment methods were compared. A mixed-model ANOVA showed that the choice of realignment method significantly affected the values of upper body variables as well as their ability to discriminate between the PD and control group. Our findings indicate researchers and clinicians should be cautious when comparing upper body variables extracted from IMUs using different realignment methods, and consideration of realignment technique will be important when identifying the most sensitive markers of disease presence and progression. Therefore, it’s strongly recommend that researchers consider and report their realignment methods when assessing upper body variables during gait.     

Promoting ball skills in preschool-age girls

Objectives

Evidence supports that girls are less proficient than boys at performing ball skills. This study examined the immediate and long-term effects of a ball skill intervention on preschool-age girls’ ball skill performance.

Relationship between meeting physical activity guidelines and motor competence among low-income school youth

ObjectivesGlobal health guidelines suggest that youth should accumulate at least 60 min of daily, moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA). The relationship between meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines and motor competence (MC) in youth is relatively unknown. This study assessed levels of MVPA and MC among socially vulnerable youth and determined if meeting the PA guidelines was associated with MC.DesignCross-sectional.MethodsA total of 1017 youths aged 3–14 years from three schools participated in the study. Participants wore accelerometers for seven consecutive days to assess PA. Motor competence was assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development, 2nd Edition and the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder. MVPA and MC were compared by sex and school levels (preschool, elementary school and middle school). Binary logistic regression models examined the predictive power of meeting PA guidelines and age on MC.ResultsThe prevalence of meeting PA guidelines declined across school levels among both girls (72% in preschool to 21% in middle school, p < 0.001) and boys (84% in preschool to 57% in middle school, p < 0.001). MC levels were low and also declined across age in both sexes (p < 0.001). During preschool, age (older) was a consistent predictor of low MC, independently of meeting PA guidelines.ConclusionsExcept for adolescent boys, meeting PA guidelines was not associated with higher MC. Public health policies should focus on the quantity and quality of MVPA within schools and on alleviating the decline in PA and MC across childhood and adolescence, with special attention to girls and disadvantaged families.     

The test–retest reliability of gait-related dual task performance in community-dwelling fallers and non-fallers

Gait-related dual task tests have been used to assess differences between fallers and non-fallers, without a thorough assessment of reliability. This study investigated the test–retest reliability of eight gait-related dual and one triple task tests in forty-four community-dwelling older adults (twenty with and twenty-four without a history of falls). The reliability of single, dual and change in performance (percentage change) from single to dual task conditions was assessed. The results showed that single and dual task walking time had fair to excellent reliability (ICC = 0.53–0.92) across tasks. The percentage change in walking time (dual-task decrement) showed only poor to good reliability (ICC = ?0.11 to 0.75). Cognitive task performance speed and accuracy showed poor to good reliability in single and dual task conditions (ICC = ?0.16 to 0.83). The difference between the two conditions in speed and accuracy showed poor to fair reliability (ICC = ?0.40 to 0.51). A secondary motor task (carrying a cup of water) ranged from slightly to moderately reliable in dual task conditions and when change in performance was measured (kappa = 0.18–0.57). This study showed that simple dual task tests are reliable in the single and dual conditions but measures of change in performance, which are recommended for dual task assessment, are less reliable and is something which needs to be considered in future research. Of the nine examined, only one test, the walking while talking test, showed good reliability on primary and secondary tasks.     

The Athletic Skills Track: Age- and gender-related normative values of a motor skills test for 4- to 12-year-old children

Objectives

The aim of the presented study is to provide age- and gender-related normative values and MQ values for a motor skills test, the Athletic Skills Track, among 4- to 12-year-old children.