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The Fitness Barometer: A Best Practice Example for Monitoring Motor Performance With Pooled Data Collected From
Tanja Eberhardt1, Klaus Bös1, Claudia Niessner1
1Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Insights
Monitoring children's motor performance (MP) is vital for future health. The German Motor Test 6-18 (GMT 6-18) and Kinderturntest Plus 3-10 (KITT+ 3-10) are effective tools for tracking MP trends and informing interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Sports Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Motor performance (MP) in children is crucial for lifelong physical activity and health.
- Standardized MP assessment is essential for tracking trends and implementing targeted programs.
- Various assessment tools exist, complicating comparisons and gold-standard determination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of the German Motor Test 6-18 (GMT 6-18) and Kinderturntest Plus 3-10 (KITT+ 3-10) as best-practice MP assessment tools.
- To demonstrate how data from these tools can inform practical applications, such as the Fitness Barometer.
- To analyze trends in children's MP and BMI using these assessment tools.
Main Methods:
- Anonymous data collection from the Fitness Barometer using GMT 6-18 and KITT+ 3-10 (2012-2020).
- Pooling and categorization of data into MP and BMI percentiles using the MO|REdata e-Research infrastructure.
- Statistical analyses including t-tests, frequency analysis, chi-square tests, and ANOVA on data from 23,864 children.
Main Results:
- Children achieved a mean MP score of 57.03 (SD = 18.85).
- 12.7% of children were overweight or obese, with significant differences across age groups.
- A significant relationship was found between BMI category and MP levels.
- Endurance and speed decreased significantly in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusions:
- The GMT 6-18 and KITT+ 3-10 are valid, objective, reliable, and cost-effective tools for monitoring children's MP.
- Findings from these assessments provide practical value for developing targeted programs and interventions.
- The Fitness Barometer serves as a best-practice model for using standardized MP monitoring to identify trends and inform evidence-based strategies with partners.
Abstract:
Introduction: Motor Performance (MP) in children is an important resource for their future active lifestyle and health. Monitoring of MP is crucial to derive information of trends and to implement specific programs on the base of current MP levels. A variety of MP assessment tools exist, making it difficult to determine a "gold-standard" for assessment and to compare the findings. In Germany, the German Motor Test 6-18 (GMT 6-18) and Kinderturntest Plus 3-10 (KITT+ 3-10) are widely used MP assessment tools. The aim of this paper is to show which key questions can be answered within the context of a best practice example of a MP assessment tool and what can be derived from this for a practical application (the Fitness Barometer). Methods: The raw data of the Fitness Barometer was collected with the MP assessment tools GMT 6-18 and KITT+ 3-10 from 2012 through 2020. Data was pooled anonymously with the e-Research infrastructure MO|REdata and categorized into percentiles for MP and BMI. Overall, we included data of 23,864 children for the statistical analyses. T-tests for independent samples, percentage frequency analysis, descriptive statistics (chi- square-test) and single analysis of variance were conducted. Results and Discussion: Children tested reached a mean value of 57.03 (SD = 18.85). Of the sample, 12.7% children were overweight or obese and there is a significant difference between age groups [ = 178.62, p < 0.001, Cramer V = 0.09; n = 23.656]. The relationship between BMI category and mean value of MP was significant [F(4,19,523) = 224.81, p < 0.001]. During 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, mean value of endurance and speed decreased [Welch's F(1,573) = 8.08, p = 0.005; Welch's F(1,610) = 35.92, p < 0.001]. The GMT 6-18 and KITT+ 3-10 are valid, objective, reliable, and economic MP assessment tools for monitoring MP levels and derive added practical value. Specific programs and interventions should focus on the findings of these. The Fitness Barometer is a best practice example how a standardized assessment tool of monitoring MP point to trends on which practical evidence-based suggestions can be derived with many various partners and expertise.
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