Abstract
ObjectiveThe present study aimed to: 1) examine the association of biological maturation effect on performance at a motor coordination battery and 2) to assess whether the association between biological maturation and scores obtained in motor coordination tests is mediated by some anthropometric measurement. MethodsThe convenience sample consisted of 73 male children aged 8 years old. Anthropometric data considered the height, body mass, sitting height, waist circumference, body mass index, fat mass and fat-free mass estimates. Biological maturation was assessed by the percentage of the predicted mature stature. Motor coordination was tested by the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder. A partial correlation between anthropometric measurements, z-score of maturation and the motor coordination tests were performed, controlling for chronological age. Finally, causal mediation analysis was performed. ResultsHeight, body mass, waist circumference and fat mass showed a slight to moderate inverse correlation with motor coordination. Biological maturation was significantly associated with the balance test with backward walking (r=−0.34). Total mediation of the waist circumference was identified in the association between biological maturation and balance test with backward walking (77%). ConclusionsWe identified an association between biological maturation and KTK test performance in male children and also verified that there is mediation of waist circumference. It is recommended that studies be carried out with female individuals and at other age ranges.
Highlights
The motor coordination of children seems to be associated with health-related physical fitness,[1] physical activity,[2] body composition,[3] sociodemographic characteristics,[4] and the overall health of this population
There is a lack of studies in the literature describing the multiple factors that may be related to motor development of children, including the biological maturation
The studies performed with the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) test battery aimed primarily at the association of the anthropometric characteristics of children and youth, especially body mass index (BMI), with test performance.[7,8]
Summary
The motor coordination of children seems to be associated with health-related physical fitness,[1] physical activity,[2] body composition,[3] sociodemographic characteristics,[4] and the overall health of this population. The Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) test has been used to evaluate motor coordination in children and adolescents.[7,8] there is a lack of studies in the literature describing the multiple factors that may be related to motor development of children, including the biological maturation. The studies performed with the KTK test battery aimed primarily at the association of the anthropometric characteristics of children and youth, especially body mass index (BMI), with test performance.[7,8] in a recent systematic review with meta-analysis of studies on the subject, no selected study took into account the relationship between maturational status and BMI values of individuals, as well as performance on motor coordination tests.[7]
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