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 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 (R2 from 0.178 to 0.469, all P-values < 0.05). Additional percentile scores weakened the associations, but they still remained significant (R2 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.

Association between Gross Motor Competence and Physical Fitness in Chilean Children Aged 4 to 6 Years

“…The descriptive values obtained in PF are similar to those of the preschool population in Chile [14][15][16][17], but lower than those reported in other countries [42][43][44]. This situation could be explained by the long length of the Chilean school day, which leads to low energy expenditure [63,64], low levels of physical activity [18], high levels of overweight and obesity [65], as a result of poor nutrition [17,65,66].…”

“…Regarding the correlations between BMI and the different components of physical fitness in boys and girls, studies deliver similar results, showing that higher levels of GMC correlate with better fitness in both boys and girls [20,43,52,78]. However, the results of the correlations between GMC and BMI were lower compared to a study conducted in South Africa [43], which only found an inverse correlation with cardiorespiratory fitness (r= −0.127), a situation that could be due to factors such as the level of physical activity and sociodemographic, environmental and nutritional factors, among others.…”

“…Regarding the associations between GMC and PF, as far as we know, there are no studies that have analysed them in the Chilean preschool population, while at the international level, there are a few studies that have reported them, all of them with different results [42][43][44]. The results of this study indicate a positive association between GMC and the components of lower body muscle strength, speed/agility and cardiorespiratory fitness, results similar to those reported in older children, which would suggest that the sample evaluated would lay the foundations for an adequate development of the basic skills necessary for good participation in motor activities [74,75], as well as a greater probability of obtaining health benefits [27,76], a situation that is relevant given the high rates of overweight, obesity and low levels of physical activity in children in Chile [18,65].…”

“…It has even been reported that gender differences in MC are already evident at this age [35]. With respect to studies on MC and PF, the establishment of reference values is known [36][37][38][39][40][41], but there are a few studies in the international context that have investigated the association between GMC and PF in preschool children, among which two report an association [42,43], while another found no association [44]. Given that no studies were found in Chilean children that address the association between the two components, generating new information could contribute to a better understanding of the topic, highlighting the importance of early assessment and stimulating the design of programs aimed at improving MC and PF in the first years of life.…”