ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Balance ability is important for preschoolers' motor and physical development. Portable accelerometers can provide resolution tests and identification of preschoolers with balance defects. RESEARCH QUESTION: Despite previous studies on the balance measures of accelerometer tests, there is a lack of complete analyses for preschoolers aged 4-5 years. In this study, we aim to verify the reliability of measuring the static balance of preschoolers in this age range based on inertia sensors for the acceleration and angular velocity moduli. METHODS: Thirty children wore an inertial sensor in the 5th lumbar vertebra and completed four tests, i.e., standing on a firm surface and on a foam surface with open and closed eyes. The standard deviation of the acceleration modulus and root mean square of the angular velocity modulus were calculated. The analysis was based on the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to determine the internal consistency and feasibility. RESULTS: The ICC of the acceleration modulus was between 0.597 and 0.683 (P < 0.01), and the test-retest reliability was medium. The ICC of the angular velocity modulus was between 0.683 and 0.812 (P < 0.01, P < 0.001), and the test-retest reliability was medium to good. The standard error of measurement (SEM) of the acceleration modulus was between 0.001591 and 0.007248 (g), and the SEM% was between 21.24% and 34.12%. The angular velocity modulus SEM values ranged from 1.296 to 3.441 (deg/s), and the SEM% ranged from 25.17% to 33.26%. The difference between the two tests was evenly distributed on both sides of the mean value, and the difference between the test results was within the consistency limit. SIGNIFICANCE: Inertial sensors can be used to evaluate the static balance ability of preschoolers aged 4-5 years. Further, the angular velocity modulus is more reliable than the acceleration modulus.
Subject(s)
Acceleration , Postural Balance , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Reproducibility of Results , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the effect of gross motor skills on physical activity of children aged 3-6 years, and to provide basis for children’s health behavior intervention.@*Methods@#A total of 332 young children in Shanghai Xiangyin kindergarten were selected as survey objects. The development of gross movements of young children was measured by TGMD-2. Caregivers reported children’s physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF).@*Results@#The development level of gross movements of children aged 3-6 in Shanghai was relatively low(54.76±13.86). The physical activity of children was mainly light-intensity physical activity, and the daily moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity time was (58.62±52.73) minutes every day. Locomotor skills had the greatest effect on children’s VPA (β=0.19) and TPA(β=0.12), with a contribution rate of 3.3% and 1.1%, respectively; Object control skills has the greatest effect on children’s MVPA (β=0.17) and MPA (β=0.12) had the largest effect(P<0.05), with contribution rates of 2.5% and 1.2%, respectively. The relationship between gross motor skills and physical activity had nothing to do with gender and age.@*Conclusion@#Children’s gross motor skills in the 3-6 year-old population should be improved and may be an effective way to promote physical activity.
