Physical Fitness in Children With High Motor Competence Is Different From That in Children With Low Motor Competence

作者：Monika Haga · 发表于：Physical Therapy · 年份：2009 · DOI：10.2522/ptj.20090052 · 被引用次数：171 · 研究领域：Children's Physical and Motor Development、Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders、Infant Development and Preterm Care

BACKGROUND: Physical therapists often treat children with low motor competence. Earlier studies have demonstrated poor physical fitness outcomes and a reduced level of physical activity for these children compared with their peers with normal motor skills. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine how physical fitness developed over time in 2 groups of children: those with a low level of competence in motor skills (low motor competence [LMC]), and those with a high level of competence in motor skills (high motor competence [HMC]). DESIGN AND METHODS: From an initial sample of 67 children, a group of 18 was identified as having HMC or LMC on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children and was selected for the present study. Eight children (3 girls and 5 boys) comprised the LMC group, and 10 children (4 girls and 6 boys) made up the HMC group. A longitudinal design was implemented, and physical fitness in the 2 groups was evaluated by measuring different fitness components over a period of 32 months. RESULTS: A mixed-effects analysis of variance revealed significant main effects for group and for time but no group x time interaction effect. The LMC group performed less well on all physical fitness measures than the HMC group, and both groups scored significantly higher on the physical fitness test after a period of 32 months. The lack of a significant interaction effect indicated that the relative differences in physical fitness outcomes between the groups were relativel...