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The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Inhibition in Children With and Without Motor Impairments
Insights
Vigorous physical activity (PA) on weekdays is linked to better inhibition skills in girls with motor impairments. Promoting PA can support executive function development in children.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Neuroscience
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Investigating the link between physical activity (PA) and inhibition in children.
- Comparing children with and without motor impairments, considering sex differences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between physical activity (PA) and inhibition in boys and girls with and without motor impairments.
- To determine how sex and motor ability influence this relationship.
Main Methods:
- 58 children (7-12 years) with and without motor impairments participated.
- Physical activity was measured using accelerometers over 7 days.
- Inhibition was assessed using a visuospatial attention paradigm; data analyzed with generalized linear mixed models.
Main Results:
- Boys and typically developing children showed faster inhibition than girls and those with motor impairments.
- Motor ability and vigorous PA on weekdays significantly predicted inhibition in girls only.
Conclusions:
- Vigorous PA on weekdays positively relates to inhibition in girls, moderated by sex and motor ability.
- Interventions promoting vigorous PA are recommended for enhancing executive function in children.
Background:
To examine the relationship between physical activity (PA) and inhibition in boys and girls with motor impairments compared with children with typical development.
Methods:
The participants were 58 (26 motor impairments and 32 typical development) children aged 7-12 years who met the inclusion criteria. PA was assessed using accelerometers for 7 consecutive days. The time spent in PA of different intensity levels (light, moderate, and vigorous) were analyzed for weekdays and weekends. Using a visuospatial attention paradigm, inhibition was evaluated by the difference in reaction time between invalid and valid cue conditions. Generalized linear mixed models were used to determine the associations of inhibition with PA and motor ability by sex.
Results:
Boys and children with typical development had shorter reaction times in inhibition than girls (P < .001) and children with motor impairments (P < .05), respectively. Motor ability (b = 189.98) and vigorous PA on weekdays (b = -43.18) were significant predictors of inhibition in girls only.
Conclusions:
The results indicate a positive relationship between vigorous PA (on weekdays) and inhibition in children (girls), moderated by sex and motor ability. Effective interventions that promote vigorous PA for children both in and out of school should be designed to foster their executive function development.
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