Prevalence of fundamental movement skill proficiency among Iranian children aged 2.5–14 years

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of fundamental movement skill (FMS) proficiency among a sample of Iranian children. Design: Cross sectional, representative sample of 2200 children aged 2.5-14 years (50% girls), living in Tehran in 2018. Methods: Trained field staff assessed 7 locomotor and 4 object control skills in educational settings using the Ohio State University Scale of Intra-Gross Motor Assessment (OSU-SIGMA). Scores for levels 1-3 represent immature performance and level 4 represents proficiency. Data were analyzed by age and sex. Results: Overall, proficiency prevalences were higher in boys than girls. Proficiency in walking and running emerged in children from age 2.5 years, and proficiency in more complex locomotor skills (i.e., jumping, skipping, hopping, ladder-climbing) and object control skills emerged at age 6 years. The prevalence of proficiency in hopping, jumping, skipping and all object control skills were low in children aged <9 years. All children aged ≥9 years were proficient in all locomotor skills. At age 9 years, the prevalence of object control proficiency were high for throwing (boys 100%, girls 89%), catching (boys 89%, girls 65%), striking (boys 69%, girls 53%) and low for kicking (boys 45%, girls 41%). All children ≥11 years were proficient in all FMS except kicking (boys 61%, girls 55%). Conclusions: FMS proficiency were age and sex related with proficiency in most skills emerging around age 6 years. All children aged ≥11 years were proficient in all FMS, except kicking. The findings may be useful to guide the development of intervention programs in Iranian children aged 2.5-10 years.

Associations of obesity, movement behaviors, and socioeconomic status with fundamental movement skills in children: Results from the REACT project

“…This study investigated the interplay between biological, behavioral characteristics and family SES on boys and girls FMS scores. Our model results showed that boys were generally more proficient in their FMS across all ages, a finding consistent with previous studies (Nobre et al, 2016; Nobre et al, 2018; Shams et al, 2021). These differences were greater in object control skills than in locomotion skills (Bardid et al, 2016; Pienaar et al, 2022).…”

Teacher-Rated Executive Functions, Gender and Relative Age: Independent and Interactive Effects on Observed Fundamental Motor Skills in Kindergarteners

“…The movement choices made later in life (for example, whether an individual ultimately decides to engage in exercise, physical games, sports, or even) will hinge on these FMS. Given that this stage of FMS development coincides with preschool years ( Barnett et al, 2019 ; Wainwright et al, 2019 ; Wang et al, 2020 ; Lopes et al, 2021 ; Shams et al, 2021 ) and its importance is such that preschool years are considered the golden age for motor development ( Wang et al, 2020 ).…”

Jump Movement Skills Pattern Among Indonesia Mentally Retarded Children Using D-Mat

“…They are also characterized by low fundamental movement skills (Maïano et al, 2019). While it is important to relate with the physical activity and health for children (Shams et al, 2021;Anderson et al, 2017). However, these limitations do not mean that they are not able to make good jumping movements.…”