Associations between basic motor competencies and physical fitness in Spanish pre-schoolers: a cross-sectional study

Italian Journal of Pediatrics

Research

Alicia M. Alonso-Martínez¹  Gaizka Legarra-Gorgoñon¹  Blanca Erice-Echegaray¹  Yesenia García-Alonso¹  Mikel Izquierdo²  Robinson Ramírez-Vélez² 

[1]Department of Health Sciences, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Avenida de Barañain S/N, 31008, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain

[2]Department of Health Sciences, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Avenida de Barañain S/N, 31008, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain

[3]CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

关键词: Motor skills;    Physical fitness;    Pre-schoolers;    Children;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13052-023-01504-w

 received in 2023-05-10, accepted in 2023-07-25,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundBasic motor competencies (BMC) play a vital role in child development and are a primary focus of physical education. However, there is a lack of research on BMC in preschool-aged children, making this study particularly significant. The present study aims to examine the relationship between BMC and physical fitness components in Spanish preschool children.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 children (n = 52 boys, average age of 4.80 years) living in Pamplona, North Spain. Components of physical fitness (handgrip strength, standing long jump, speed-agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness) were assessed using the PREFIT Battery. Overall physical fitness was computed from the four selected fitness components separately for boys and girls. Higher z-scores values in physical fitness indicate better fitness performance. To assess BMC, the MOBAK KG test battery was applied (subscales of object control and self-movement). Sex, age, and body mass index were used as main confounders.ResultsAfter adjustment for confounding factors, the BMC was positively associated with single (z-scores) components and overall physical fitness sum of z-scores (R2 from 0.178 to 0.469, all P-values < 0.05). Additional percentile scores weakened the associations, but they still remained significant (R2 from 0.146 to 0.337, all P-values < 0.05). Compared with participants in the lowest tertile, those in the highest tertile of the MOBAK KG sum score, and in both object movement and self-movement test subscales had significantly higher scores in single fitness component (z-scores or percentile) and overall physical fitness sum of z-scores (all P for trend < 0.001).ConclusionsOur results revealed that higher BMC is associated with better physical fitness in Spanish preschool children. The findings emphasize the crucial role that basic motor competence plays in promoting physical activity in preschool children.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Società Italiana di Pediatria 2023

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