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Skeletal maturation, fundamental motor skills, and motor performance in preschool children

D L Freitas1,2, B Lausen2, J A Maia3

  • 1Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal.

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
|June 3, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Skeletal age (SA) and body size had a small influence on fundamental motor skills (FMS) and motor performance in young children. Relationships varied between boys and girls, except for balance. This highlights the complex interplay of factors in early childhood development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric physical development
  • Childhood motor development
  • Growth and motor skills

Background:

  • Skeletal age (SA) and body size are key indicators of physical development in children.
  • Fundamental motor skills (FMS) and overall motor performance are crucial for healthy childhood development.
  • Understanding the interplay between skeletal maturation, body dimensions, and motor abilities is essential for early intervention and tailored physical education programs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationships between skeletal age (SA), body size (stature and body mass), and fundamental motor skills (FMS) and motor performance in preschool-aged children.
  • To determine the extent to which SA, independent of and interacting with body size, influences FMS and motor performance.
  • To explore potential sex differences in these relationships.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 155 boys and 159 girls aged 3-6 years.
  • Skeletal age (SA) assessed using the Tanner-Whitehouse II 20 bone method; body size measured for stature and body mass.
  • Fundamental motor skills (FMS) and motor performance evaluated using the Test of Gross Motor Development, 2nd edition (TGMD-2) and the Preschool Test Battery.

Main Results:

  • Skeletal age residuals (SAsr) explained a small percentage of variance in FMS and motor performance (boys: max 6.1%; girls: max 20.4%) beyond body size and its interactions.
  • Interactions between SAsr and body size (stature, body mass) explained significant variance (boys: max 28.3%; girls: max 16.7%) over body size alone.
  • Relationships between SAsr and FMS/motor performance generally differed between sexes, with the exception of balance.

Conclusions:

  • Skeletal age, both independently and in interaction with body size, exerts a relatively small influence on fundamental motor skills and motor performance in children aged 3-6 years.
  • The influence of skeletal maturation and body size on motor development is sex-dependent, highlighting the need for gender-specific considerations.
  • While body size is a significant factor, skeletal maturation plays a limited role in explaining motor skill variations in this age group.

Keywords:
bone ageearly childhoodmotor developmentmovement proficiency

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