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Modeling children's development in gross motor coordination reveals key modifiable determinants. An allometric
M A M Dos Santos1,2, A M Nevill3, R Buranarugsa4
1Department of Physical Education, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
Insights
Children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric growth and development
- Motor control and biomechanics
- Exercise science and kinesiology
Background:
- Children's gross motor coordination (GMC) evolves with age, influenced by body size and shape.
- Understanding the interplay between GMC, physical activity (PA), and physical fitness (PF) is crucial for child development.
- Longitudinal data is needed to accurately model GMC changes and their associations with PA and PF.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally model changes in children's gross motor coordination (GMC).
- To investigate the associations between GMC changes and levels of physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF).
- To identify body size and shape characteristics associated with GMC development.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 245 children from age 6 to 9 years.
- Sequential fitting of allometric models incorporating body mass, stature, PA, and various PF tests.
- Analysis of GMC changes in relation to body composition and fitness components.
Main Results:
- Nonlinear changes in GMC were observed, with significant associations with body mass and stature.
- Children with more linear body types demonstrated higher GMC.
- Physical fitness tests (e.g., handgrip, jump, dash, run) were significantly linked to GMC changes, while PA was not.
- Girls generally outperformed boys in GMC over time.
- Ectomorphic body types showed the greatest GMC improvements.
Conclusions:
- Children's GMC development is closely linked to their body size, shape, and physical fitness, particularly muscular strength, speed, agility, and aerobic capacity.
- Physical education and nutritional guidance should focus on developing these fitness components and managing body composition for optimal motor coordination.
- PA alone was not directly associated with GMC changes in this cohort, suggesting a stronger role for fitness and body composition.
Abstract:
Children change their body size, shape, and gross motor coordination (GMC) as they grow. Further, GMC is expected to link to changes in children's body size, physical activity (PA), and physical fitness (PF). The objective was to model GMC changes in children followed longitudinally and to investigate associations between these changes and PA and PF levels. A total of 245 children (122 girls) were observed at 6 years of age and followed annually until 9 years. A sequence of allometric models was fitted, that is, 1. body mass, stature, and PA; 2. addition of four PF tests; 3. addition of four more PF tests. In Model 1, changes in GMC are nonlinear, and body mass (-0.60 ± 0.07, P < .001) and stature (2.91 ± 0.35, P < .001) parameter estimates were significant suggesting children with a more linear body size/shape showed higher GMC performances. Girls tend to outperform boys across time, and PA was not associated with GMC changes. Model 2 fitted the data better, and the PF tests (handgrip, standing long jump, 50-yard dash, and shuttle run) were significantly linked to GMC change. In Model 3, adding the remaining PF tests did not change the order of any factors importance. The greatest GMC changes were achieved by children whose body size/shape has an ectomorphic dominance across the years. Considering that leaner and physically fitter children tended to be more coordinated, physical education should also focus on PF development in components related to muscular strength, speed, agility, and aerobic capacity, along with nutritional education to reduce fat mass.
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