Age and Gender Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics and Motor Performance of 3 through 6 Young Kids Aged (Pilot Study)
Background: It is crucial to evaluate children’s motor coordination and strength to identify possible motor deficits on the right or left side of the body. However, whether a distinction exists in children aged 3–6 must be clarified. The goal of the current research was to investigate the difference...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/3/590 |
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| author | Almir Atiković Ekrem Čolakhodžić Edin Užičanin Emilija Petković Amra Nožinović Mujanović Edin Mujanović Jasmin Zahirović Naida Mešković Ana Lilić |
| author_facet | Almir Atiković Ekrem Čolakhodžić Edin Užičanin Emilija Petković Amra Nožinović Mujanović Edin Mujanović Jasmin Zahirović Naida Mešković Ana Lilić |
| author_sort | Almir Atiković |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: It is crucial to evaluate children’s motor coordination and strength to identify possible motor deficits on the right or left side of the body. However, whether a distinction exists in children aged 3–6 must be clarified. The goal of the current research was to investigate the differences in motor skills between preschool boys and girls, dominant and non-dominant hands or legs, in children of preschool age. (2) Methods: The present study was conducted on a sample of children (boys, n = 52; girls, n = 52; age range, 3–6 years). Three motor tests evaluated on both sides of the body served as the sample of factors used to measure athletic performance. Leg tapping (15 s), hand tapping (15 s), and a maximal hand grip strength (HGS) test kg. (3) Results: The study’s findings show no statistically significant variations in preschool boys’ and girls’ motor skills. Preschool girls had better results in the right leg tapping than preschool boys <i>t</i> (98) = 2.08; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.04. We found a significant difference between genders aged 3–4, 4–5, and 5–6 years. No correlation was found between the girls’ three variables and age. A small but significant positive correlation was found between dominant hand tapping and age <i>r</i><sup>2</sup> (52) = 0.21; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.01, dominant leg tapping and age <i>r</i><sup>2</sup> (52) = 0.20; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.01 and dominant HGS and age <i>r</i><sup>2</sup> (52) = 0.17; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.01. No noticeable differences were identified when comparing the dominant side with the non-dominant side in each group. The results show that most children prefer to use their right hand and right leg as their dominant sides. (4) Conclusion: The authors of this study focus on the functional (frequency of movements) and dynamic (differences in muscle strength between body sides) elements of asymmetry. Future studies should examine the influence of morphology on performance with the dominant or non-dominant body side. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:44:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c6c0c77d80534d31ba95353df28c660f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:44:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-c6c0c77d80534d31ba95353df28c660f2023-11-17T10:22:25ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672023-03-0110359010.3390/children10030590Age and Gender Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics and Motor Performance of 3 through 6 Young Kids Aged (Pilot Study)Almir Atiković0Ekrem Čolakhodžić1Edin Užičanin2Emilija Petković3Amra Nožinović Mujanović4Edin Mujanović5Jasmin Zahirović6Naida Mešković7Ana Lilić8Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Tuzla, 2. Oktobra 1., 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Education, University Džemal Bijedić of Mostar, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Tuzla, 2. Oktobra 1., 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, SerbiaFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Tuzla, 2. Oktobra 1., 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Tuzla, 2. Oktobra 1., 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Tuzla, 2. Oktobra 1., 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Tuzla, 2. Oktobra 1., 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, SerbiaBackground: It is crucial to evaluate children’s motor coordination and strength to identify possible motor deficits on the right or left side of the body. However, whether a distinction exists in children aged 3–6 must be clarified. The goal of the current research was to investigate the differences in motor skills between preschool boys and girls, dominant and non-dominant hands or legs, in children of preschool age. (2) Methods: The present study was conducted on a sample of children (boys, n = 52; girls, n = 52; age range, 3–6 years). Three motor tests evaluated on both sides of the body served as the sample of factors used to measure athletic performance. Leg tapping (15 s), hand tapping (15 s), and a maximal hand grip strength (HGS) test kg. (3) Results: The study’s findings show no statistically significant variations in preschool boys’ and girls’ motor skills. Preschool girls had better results in the right leg tapping than preschool boys <i>t</i> (98) = 2.08; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.04. We found a significant difference between genders aged 3–4, 4–5, and 5–6 years. No correlation was found between the girls’ three variables and age. A small but significant positive correlation was found between dominant hand tapping and age <i>r</i><sup>2</sup> (52) = 0.21; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.01, dominant leg tapping and age <i>r</i><sup>2</sup> (52) = 0.20; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.01 and dominant HGS and age <i>r</i><sup>2</sup> (52) = 0.17; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.01. No noticeable differences were identified when comparing the dominant side with the non-dominant side in each group. The results show that most children prefer to use their right hand and right leg as their dominant sides. (4) Conclusion: The authors of this study focus on the functional (frequency of movements) and dynamic (differences in muscle strength between body sides) elements of asymmetry. Future studies should examine the influence of morphology on performance with the dominant or non-dominant body side.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/3/590childrenhandgrip strengthdynamometerhands tappinglegs tapping |
| spellingShingle | Almir Atiković Ekrem Čolakhodžić Edin Užičanin Emilija Petković Amra Nožinović Mujanović Edin Mujanović Jasmin Zahirović Naida Mešković Ana Lilić Age and Gender Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics and Motor Performance of 3 through 6 Young Kids Aged (Pilot Study) Children children handgrip strength dynamometer hands tapping legs tapping |
| title | Age and Gender Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics and Motor Performance of 3 through 6 Young Kids Aged (Pilot Study) |
| title_full | Age and Gender Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics and Motor Performance of 3 through 6 Young Kids Aged (Pilot Study) |
| title_fullStr | Age and Gender Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics and Motor Performance of 3 through 6 Young Kids Aged (Pilot Study) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age and Gender Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics and Motor Performance of 3 through 6 Young Kids Aged (Pilot Study) |
| title_short | Age and Gender Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics and Motor Performance of 3 through 6 Young Kids Aged (Pilot Study) |
| title_sort | age and gender differences in anthropometric characteristics and motor performance of 3 through 6 young kids aged pilot study |
| topic | children handgrip strength dynamometer hands tapping legs tapping |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/3/590 |
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