Associations between basic motor competencies and physical fitness in Spanish pre-schoolers: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Basic motor competencies (BMC) play a vital role in child development and are a primary focus of physical education. However, there is a lack of research on BMC in preschool-aged children, making this study particularly significant. The present study aims to examine the relations...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-023-01504-w |
| _version_ | 1797557650039242752 |
|---|---|
| author | Gaizka Legarra-Gorgoñon Yesenia García-Alonso Robinson Ramírez-Vélez Blanca Erice-Echegaray Mikel Izquierdo Alicia M. Alonso-Martínez |
| author_facet | Gaizka Legarra-Gorgoñon Yesenia García-Alonso Robinson Ramírez-Vélez Blanca Erice-Echegaray Mikel Izquierdo Alicia M. Alonso-Martínez |
| author_sort | Gaizka Legarra-Gorgoñon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Basic motor competencies (BMC) play a vital role in child development and are a primary focus of physical education. However, there is a lack of research on BMC in preschool-aged children, making this study particularly significant. The present study aims to examine the relationship between BMC and physical fitness components in Spanish preschool children. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 children (n = 52 boys, average age of 4.80 years) living in Pamplona, North Spain. Components of physical fitness (handgrip strength, standing long jump, speed-agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness) were assessed using the PREFIT Battery. Overall physical fitness was computed from the four selected fitness components separately for boys and girls. Higher z-scores values in physical fitness indicate better fitness performance. To assess BMC, the MOBAK KG test battery was applied (subscales of object control and self-movement). Sex, age, and body mass index were used as main confounders. Results After adjustment for confounding factors, the BMC was positively associated with single (z-scores) components and overall physical fitness sum of z-scores (R 2 from 0.178 to 0.469, all P-values < 0.05). Additional percentile scores weakened the associations, but they still remained significant (R 2 from 0.146 to 0.337, all P-values < 0.05). Compared with participants in the lowest tertile, those in the highest tertile of the MOBAK KG sum score, and in both object movement and self-movement test subscales had significantly higher scores in single fitness component (z-scores or percentile) and overall physical fitness sum of z-scores (all P for trend < 0.001). Conclusions Our results revealed that higher BMC is associated with better physical fitness in Spanish preschool children. The findings emphasize the crucial role that basic motor competence plays in promoting physical activity in preschool children. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:19:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c80b60af0adf4f7585569506c99e325d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1824-7288 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:19:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-c80b60af0adf4f7585569506c99e325d2023-11-20T10:23:40ZengBMCItalian Journal of Pediatrics1824-72882023-08-0149111010.1186/s13052-023-01504-wAssociations between basic motor competencies and physical fitness in Spanish pre-schoolers: a cross-sectional studyGaizka Legarra-Gorgoñon0Yesenia García-Alonso1Robinson Ramírez-Vélez2Blanca Erice-Echegaray3Mikel Izquierdo4Alicia M. Alonso-Martínez5Department of Health Sciences, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA)Department of Health Sciences, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA)Department of Health Sciences, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA)Department of Health Sciences, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA)Department of Health Sciences, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA)Department of Health Sciences, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA)Abstract Background Basic motor competencies (BMC) play a vital role in child development and are a primary focus of physical education. However, there is a lack of research on BMC in preschool-aged children, making this study particularly significant. The present study aims to examine the relationship between BMC and physical fitness components in Spanish preschool children. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 children (n = 52 boys, average age of 4.80 years) living in Pamplona, North Spain. Components of physical fitness (handgrip strength, standing long jump, speed-agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness) were assessed using the PREFIT Battery. Overall physical fitness was computed from the four selected fitness components separately for boys and girls. Higher z-scores values in physical fitness indicate better fitness performance. To assess BMC, the MOBAK KG test battery was applied (subscales of object control and self-movement). Sex, age, and body mass index were used as main confounders. Results After adjustment for confounding factors, the BMC was positively associated with single (z-scores) components and overall physical fitness sum of z-scores (R 2 from 0.178 to 0.469, all P-values < 0.05). Additional percentile scores weakened the associations, but they still remained significant (R 2 from 0.146 to 0.337, all P-values < 0.05). Compared with participants in the lowest tertile, those in the highest tertile of the MOBAK KG sum score, and in both object movement and self-movement test subscales had significantly higher scores in single fitness component (z-scores or percentile) and overall physical fitness sum of z-scores (all P for trend < 0.001). Conclusions Our results revealed that higher BMC is associated with better physical fitness in Spanish preschool children. The findings emphasize the crucial role that basic motor competence plays in promoting physical activity in preschool children.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-023-01504-wMotor skillsPhysical fitnessPre-schoolersChildren |
| spellingShingle | Gaizka Legarra-Gorgoñon Yesenia García-Alonso Robinson Ramírez-Vélez Blanca Erice-Echegaray Mikel Izquierdo Alicia M. Alonso-Martínez Associations between basic motor competencies and physical fitness in Spanish pre-schoolers: a cross-sectional study Italian Journal of Pediatrics Motor skills Physical fitness Pre-schoolers Children |
| title | Associations between basic motor competencies and physical fitness in Spanish pre-schoolers: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Associations between basic motor competencies and physical fitness in Spanish pre-schoolers: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Associations between basic motor competencies and physical fitness in Spanish pre-schoolers: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations between basic motor competencies and physical fitness in Spanish pre-schoolers: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Associations between basic motor competencies and physical fitness in Spanish pre-schoolers: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | associations between basic motor competencies and physical fitness in spanish pre schoolers a cross sectional study |
| topic | Motor skills Physical fitness Pre-schoolers Children |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-023-01504-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gaizkalegarragorgonon associationsbetweenbasicmotorcompetenciesandphysicalfitnessinspanishpreschoolersacrosssectionalstudy AT yeseniagarciaalonso associationsbetweenbasicmotorcompetenciesandphysicalfitnessinspanishpreschoolersacrosssectionalstudy AT robinsonramirezvelez associationsbetweenbasicmotorcompetenciesandphysicalfitnessinspanishpreschoolersacrosssectionalstudy AT blancaericeechegaray associationsbetweenbasicmotorcompetenciesandphysicalfitnessinspanishpreschoolersacrosssectionalstudy AT mikelizquierdo associationsbetweenbasicmotorcompetenciesandphysicalfitnessinspanishpreschoolersacrosssectionalstudy AT aliciamalonsomartinez associationsbetweenbasicmotorcompetenciesandphysicalfitnessinspanishpreschoolersacrosssectionalstudy |