Biocultural correlates of gross motor coordination in prepubescent children: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: This study aimed to explore the association of gross motor coordination (GMC) with a matrix of biocultural factors in prepubescent children, taking into account weight status, somatic maturation, sociodemographic variables, and type of school. METHODS: One hundred twenty-nine prepubescent children, of both sexes, aged between 8.00 and 8.99, were assessed for GMC (Körperkoordinationstest Für Kinder - KTK), weight status, biological maturation (predicted mature stature), sex, mother's education level and type of school. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between higher values of KTK and associated biocultural factors. RESULTS: Normoponderal children are more likely to attain better total KTK scores than those with overweight or obesity (OR: 2.942; LC 95%: 1.189, 7.280). In addition, children who are more advanced in terms of biological maturation exhibited significantly lower odds of being in the high KTK category than their less advanced peers (OR: 0.670; LC 95%: 0.474,0.946). Sex, mother's education level and the type of school are not associated with higher performance on KTK. CONCLUSION: Weight status and biological maturation are associated with motor competence in prepubescent children. Future studies should consider additional correlates to better understand the complex interactions between biological, psychosocial and behavioral factors in the prediction of motor competence.

Age and Maturity Effects on Morphological and Physical Performance Measures of Adolescent Judo Athletes.

Studies assessing age and maturation effects on morphological and physical performance measures of young judokas are scarce. This study aimed to assess the independent and combined effects of chronological age and biological maturation on anthropometry and physical performance of 67 judokas aged 11-14. Participants' anthropometric profiles were assessed, and physical performance tests were completed. Multivariate analyses of variance revealed an independent effect of age (anthropometry: F = 1.871; p < 0.05; Pillai's trace = 0.545; η2 p = 0.272; physical performance: F = 2.876; p < 0.01; Pillai's trace = 0.509; η2 p = 0.254) and maturity (anthropometry: F = 10.085; p < 0.01; Pillai's trace = 0.669; η2 p = 0.669; physical performance: F = 11.700; p < 0.01; Pillai's trace = 0.581; η2 p = 0.581). There was no significant combined effect of age and maturity. The maturation effect remained significant when controlled for age (anthropometry: F = 4.097; p < 0.01; Pillai's trace = 0.481; η2 p = 0.481; physical performance: F = 3.859; p < 0.01; Pillai's trace = 0.0.318; η2 p = 0.318). Inadolescent judokas, the maturation effect on growth and physical performance seems to be more relevant than the age effect, leading to the need to control this effect in training routines and competitive events. As in studies with youth soccer players and other youth athletes, bio-banding can be a strategy for controlling maturation in combat sports.

Independent and Combined Effects of Biological Maturation and aerobic performance on the gross motor coordination in prepubertal girls

ABSTRACT The present study analyzed the effect of biological maturation on the performance in the test of gross motor coordination in girls, before and after having its effect controlled by body mass index (BMI) and aerobic performance. The sample was composed by 63 pre-pubertal girls (8.0-8.99 years). The girls who were less advanced in biological maturation presented lower body size and better physical performance in the tasks of walking backward on balance beams (t=2.706; p<0.01; d=0.70), moving sideways on boxes (t=2.128; p<0.05; d=0.48), hopping for height on one leg (t=2.076, p<0.05; d=0.54) and 20-m shuttle run (t=3.162; p <0.05; d=0.61). The maturation no longer influenced performance in the tasks of gross motor coordination when considering BMI and aerobic fitness.

RESUMO O presente estudo analisou o efeito da maturação biológica no desempenho em teste de coordenação motora grossa de meninas, antes e depois de ter seu efeito controlado pelo índice de massa corporal (IMC) e pelo desempenho aeróbio. Participaram 63 meninas pré-puberes de 8,0 a 8,99 anos. As meninas menos avançadas na maturação biológica apresentaram menores dimensões corporais e melhores desempenhos físicos nas tarefas de equilíbrio à retaguarda (t=2,706; p<0,01; d=0,70), transposição lateral (t=2,128; p<0,05; d=0,48), saltos monopedais (t=2,076; p<0,05; d=0,54) e 20-m shuttle run (t=3,162; p<0,05; d=0,61). A maturação deixou de influenciar o desempenho nas tarefas de coordenação motora grossa quando levou-se em consideração o IMC e a aptidão aeróbia.

RESUMEN El presente estudio analizó el efecto de la maduración biológica sobre el desempeño en prueba de coordinación motora gruesa de niñas, antes y después de tener su efecto controlado por el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y por el desempeño aeróbico. Participaron del estudio, 63 niñas pre-puberes de 8 años. Las niñas menos avanzadas en la maduración biológica presentaron menores dimensiones corporales y mejores desempeños físicos en las tareas de equilibrio a la retaguardia (t=2,706; p<0,01; d=0,70), transposición lateral (t=2,128; p<0,05; d=0,48), saltos monopedales (t=2,076; p<0,05; d=0,54) y 20-m shuttle run (t=3,162; p<0,05; d=0,61). La maduración dejó de influenciar el desempeño en las tareas de coordinación motora gruesa cuando se tuvo en cuenta el IMC y la aptitud aerobia.

Motor coordination as predictor of physical fitness in prepubertal boys / Coordenação motora como preditora da aptidão física de meninos pré-púberes

Abstract Motor competence is associated with numerous health-related variables of the pediatric population. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of the level of motor coordination on performance in several physical fitness tests in prepubertal boys, before and after controlling body mass. The sample consisted of 71 Brazilian eight-year-old boys. Anthropometry included stature, body mass and estimates of fat mass and fat-free mass. Biological maturation was evaluated by the percentage of predicted adult stature. The physical tests applied were 2-kg medicineball throw, handgrip strength, sit-ups in 60 seconds, standing long jump, 10x5-m shuttle run, 20-m shuttle run and sit and reach. Motor coordination was assessed by the Körperkoordinationtest für Kinder (KTK). For data analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, Student's t-test and ANCOVA were used, with body mass as covariate. Significance level was set at p <0.05. There was no difference in maturational level between the different groups of coordinative performance. The results showed that boys with better performance in motor coordination tests are associated with better results in physical fitness tests, especially those involving body mass displacement. This trend remained even when comparing groups controlling body mass, except for the sit-up test. Therefore, it could be concluded that motor coordination is a predictor of physical fitness in prepubertal boys.

Resumo A competência motora está associada a inúmeras variáveis relacionadas à saúde da população pediátrica. O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar o efeito do nível de coordenação motora no desempenho em diversos testes de aptidão física de meninos pré-púberes, antes e depois de controlar o efeito exercido pela massa corporal. A amostra foi composta por 71 meninos brasileiros com oito anos de idade. A antropometria considerou a estatura, a massa corporal e as estimativas de gordura corporal e de massa magra. A maturação biológica foi avaliada pelo percentual da estatura matura predita. Os testes físicos aplicados foram o lançamento de medicineball 2-kg, preensão manual, abdominais em 60 segundos, salto horizontal, 10x5-m shuttle run, 20-m shuttle run e sentar e alcançar. A coordenação motora foi avaliada pelo Körperkoordinationtest für Kinder (KTK). Para análise dos dados, foi feita a estatística descritiva, a correlação de Pearson, o teste t-Student e a ANCOVA, com a massa corporal como covariável. O nível de significância adotado foi de p<0,05. Não houve diferença quanto ao estado maturacional entre os diferentes grupos de desempenho coordenativo. Os resultados evidenciaram que meninos com melhor desempenho em teste de coordenação motora estão associados aos melhores resultados em testes de aptidão física, nomeadamente naqueles que envolvem deslocamento da massa corporal. Esta tendência permaneceu mesmo quando foi realizada comparação entre ambos os grupos com o controle da massa corporal, com exceção do teste de abdominais. Pode-se concluir que a coordenação motora é preditora da aptidão física em meninos pré-púberes.