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ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN MOTOR COMPETENCE, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN 7 AND 9-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

I. Ruzbarska, E. Chovanova

Abstract

There has been an increasing interest in studying associations among physical fitness, motor coordination and physical parameters in early childhood over the past decades. Available research data on the relationship between childhood obesity and motor competence at early ages remains rather inconclusive. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between physical fitness, motor competence indicators and somatic parameters in primary school-aged children. Data were collected from 213 prepubertal children. To determine the level of physical fitness, children performed Eurofit test battery items. Motor coordination was evaluated with the Kiphard-Schilling body coordination test, Körperkoordination-Test-für-Kinder (KTK). Body height and body mass were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The relationships between physical development indicators and the motor test items were analyzed by the Pearson correlation (rp). The significance level established was 5 % (p < 0.05) and 1% (p < 0.01). Results of this cross-sectional study clearly indicate significant inverse association between weight status, BMI and almost all motor competence and physical fitness indicators of prepubertal boys and girls. Preventive intervention programme in primary schools may offer effective means to improve motor performance in children and to break through the vicious circle physical inactivity – motor competence deficit – sedentary lifestyle with possible weight gain.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2017/35/S13.004

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