Abstract
Available data on the associations between motor competence (MC) and flexibility are limited and result inconclusive. This study aims to examine the relationship between flexibility and MC in children. The sample comprised 596 Portuguese children (47.1% girls) aged 9.7±0.6years. Motor competence was evaluated with the body coordination test, Körperkoordination Test für Kinder. Cardiorespiratory fitness (20-m shuttle run), muscular strength (curl-up and push-up tests), and flexibility (back-saver sit and reach and trunk-lift tests) were evaluated using the Fitnessgram Test Battery. Z-scores by age and gender for the physical fitness tests were constructed. Analysis of variance and regression analysis were performed. Participants in the healthy zone groups of both flexibility tests exhibited significantly better scores of MC than the participants under the healthy zone (P<0.001). Back-saver sit and reach and trunk-lift Z-scores, either individually or as a sum, were significant predictors of MC (P<0.05 for all) after adjustments for the other physical fitness components, age, body mass index, and socioeconomic status, in both genders. Our findings highlight the importance of promoting and developing flexibility, as well as the other health-related physical fitness components in schoolchildren to reach adequate levels of MC.
Highlights
There is evidence showing that children are currently less active, less fit, exhibits lower levels of motor competence (MC) (CDC, 2000; Roth, et al, 2010).adequate levels of physical activity, physical fitness and MC are desirable behaviors and outcomes that should be encouraged and developed from an early age to promote and maintain health and well-being (Lubans, et al, 2010)
Boys performed significantly better than girls in the cardiorespiratory fitness, MC and push up tests, while girls performed significantly better than boys for the modified back-saver sit and reach and trunk lift tests (p< 0.001 for all). 61. 6% of the participants
When the Zscores of the flexibility tests, either individuals or as a sum, were tested to predict each of the four sub tests of MC, we observed positive associations between flexibility and shifting platforms in both genders (p
Summary
There is evidence showing that children are currently less active, less fit, exhibits lower levels of motor competence (MC) (CDC, 2000; Roth, et al, 2010).adequate levels of physical activity, physical fitness and MC are desirable behaviors and outcomes that should be encouraged and developed from an early age to promote and maintain health and well-being (Lubans, et al, 2010). In 2008, Stodden et al, proposed a developmental recursive and reciprocal model explaining the relationships between MC, health-related physicalfit ness, perceived MC, physical activity, and risk of obesity. Poor MC has become a growing issue of interest because motor proficiency levels track from childhood into adolescence (Branta, et al, 1984) and because MC is related to health outcomes such as adiposity (Lopes, et al, 2012), self-esteem (Ulrich, 1987), perceived physical competence (Lubans, et al, 2010) cardiorespiratory fitness (Rodrigues, et al, 2016), physical activity (Lopes, et al, 2011), sedentary behaviour (Lopes, et al, 2012) and academic achievement (Lopes, et al, 2013). Some studies have reported positive associations between MC and physical fitness in children and adolescents (Gisladottir, et al, 2014; Hands, et al, 2009; Vandendriessche, et al, 2011)
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