Association Between Motor Skills and Musculoskeletal Physical Fitness Among Preschoolers
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BRIEF REPORT
Association Between Motor Skills and Musculoskeletal Physical Fitness Among Preschoolers Emily Frith1 · Paul D. Loprinzi2 Published online: 18 June 2019 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019
Abstract Objective Previous work is conflicted regarding the relationship between motor skill development and physical activity. One potential explanation for this equivocality is the difficulty and lack of precision in physical activity measurement, particularly within preschool populations. Our exploration of plank performance as a proxy measure for fitness addresses a void in the literature, as few studies have investigated the role of motor skill development on fitness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential relationship between motor skill level and musculoskeletal endurance (via the plank test). Methods Data from the 2012 National Youth Fitness Survey were used, which included 224 preschool-aged children (3–5 years). Motor skill level was assessed from the Test of Gross Motor Development-Second Edition (TGMD2). Motor skill parameters included general motor skills, locomotor skills, and object control skills. Results Within this nationally representative sample of preschoolers, increased motor skills were positively associated with plank performance [General Motor Skills (β = 0.45; 95% CI 0.31–0.59), locomotor skills (β = 1.88; 95% CI 1.15–2.61), and object control skills (β = 2.05; 95% CI 1.11–2.98)]. Conclusion Motor skill level in this national preschool sample was associated with musculoskeletal endurance. Thus, future interventions should aim to develop and refine motor skills among preschoolers. Keywords Epidemiology · Exercise · Physical fitness · Youth
Significance This is the first manuscript to evaluate the relationship between musculoskeletal fitness and motor skill level among a national sample of preschoolers. These findings demonstrate a favorable association between these parameters, underscoring the importance of improvement musculoskeletal fitness and motor skill levels among young children, as both of these parameters are associated with better health * Paul D. Loprinzi [email protected] 1
Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory, Exercise Psychology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Jackson Heart Study Vanguard Center of Oxford, Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory, Exercise Psychology Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, School of Applied Sciences, The University of Mississippi, 229 Turner Center, University, MS 38677, USA
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outcomes later in life (Cattuzzo et al. 2016; Robinson et al. 2015).
Introduction Healthy growth and development during the preschool years involves learning to execute skilled movement patterns (Okely et al. 2004), which may help to facilitate exercise initiation and maintenance throughout childhood. A plank is an isometric exercise measuring muscular endu
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