Abstract
Objective This systematic review synthesized current randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining casual evidence regarding the effects of traditional and exergaming-based physical activity (PA) interventions on motor skill development in typically developed children (i.e., those aged 6-12 years). Methods We adhered to the PRISMA-P statement and searched electronic databases (Medline, PsycInfo, Web of Science, PubMed, ERIC, Scopus, and SportDiscus) from inception through July 2020. We screened for peer reviewed RCTs published in English between 2000 and 2020 examining the effect of PA on motor skill development in healthy children. Results A total of 25 RCTs were included, 20 (80%) of which reported significant improvements in children's motor skill performance. Specifically, 18 studies examined traditional PA interventions and 7 studies examined exergaming-based PA interventions, 83% and 71% of which observed statistically significant improvements in children's motor skill development, respectively. Conclusions Findings support the causal evidence regarding the effects of PA on motor skill development in children. Notable limitations of this review included heterogeneity of measurement protocols and assessment tools used to test children's motor skills across studies, a wide range of PA intervention dose across studies, and the lack of power analyses and long-term follow-up assessments in individual studies to discern appropriate sample sizes and long-term effectiveness, respectively. To further strengthen the evidence in this emerging field, we advocate for future RCTs to employ a priori power analyses, long-term follow-up measurements, and more exergaming-based interventions to allow for comparisons with traditional PA interventions, to explore the dose response and moderating relationships between PA and motor skill development in childhood, and to utilize homogenous assessment instruments to allow for more rigorous, quantitative syntheses.
Highlights
In the U.S, approximately 33% of children and adolescents have opverweight or obesity [1]
Based on the preceding literature review, we developed the following research question: based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs)-based evidence, are traditional and exergaming-based physical activity (PA) interventions effective for improving motor skill development in typically developed children? the purpose of our study was to address these gaps in the literature and to systematically evaluate the current RCT-based evidence examining the effects of traditional and exergaming-based PA interventions on healthy children’s motor skill development
Findings suggested a causal relationship between increased PA and improved motor skill development in children, especially when interventions were conducted in a school setting [66]
Summary
In the U.S, approximately 33% of children and adolescents have opverweight or obesity [1]. Physical inactivity is among the top contributors to this issue [4] as only about 25% of U.S youth meet recommended physical activity (PA) levels [5, 6]. Because learning how to properly move is a necessary skill underlying PA behaviors in children [8, 9], interventions targeting the development of motor skills often precede those which target general PA promotion. Given that less than 25% of children meet recommended PA levels [5, 6] and given the reciprocal determinism between PA and motor skills [8, 9], interventions have more recently focused on general PA promotion among these populations with the aim of increasing motor skills and increasing long-term PA adherence and health
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