Short-term muscle power and speed in preschoolers exhibit stronger tracking than physical activity

Area of Science:

• Pediatric exercise science
• Childhood physical development
• Motor skill acquisition

Background:

• Tracking of physical fitness and activity in early childhood is crucial for long-term health.
• Understanding developmental trajectories in preschoolers informs early intervention strategies.
• Limited research exists on the longitudinal tracking of short-term muscle power, speed, and physical activity in this age group.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the 15-month tracking of short-term muscle power, speed, and physical activity in healthy Canadian preschoolers.
• To assess changes in these parameters over the preschool years.
• To compare the tracking reliability of different physical fitness and activity measures.

Main Methods:

• Seventeen preschoolers (4.4 ± 0.8 years) underwent assessments at baseline and 15-month follow-up.
• Short-term muscle power was measured using a modified 10-s Wingate test (peak and mean power normalized to body mass).
• Speed was assessed via a 25-m dash, and physical activity was monitored using accelerometry (Actigraph GT1M).

Main Results:

• Short-term muscle power (peak and mean) and 25-m dash speed significantly increased and demonstrated strong tracking (r = 0.72–0.83).
• Total physical activity showed fair tracking (r = 0.51), with no significant change.
• Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity increased significantly but exhibited poor tracking (r = 0.29).

Conclusions:

• Short-term muscle power and speed track well in preschoolers over a 15-month period.
• Physical activity, particularly moderate-to-vigorous intensity, shows weaker tracking compared to power and speed in this age group.
• Findings highlight the stability of fundamental motor skills and power development during the preschool years.