The relationship between children's physical fitness and their development of locomotor co-ordination

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in a movementprogramme (FITKIDZ) designed by the author produced statistically significantimprovements in the physical fitness and locomotor co-ordination of four and fiveyear old children. The study also examined the relationship between post-interventionlevels of physical fitness and locomotor co-ordination.The subjects (N = 19), who all attended pre-primary school, were tested onphysical fitness components and their execution of locomotor co-ordination usingboth quantitative and qualitative evaluation processes. The subjects were selectedfrom a pre-primary school that volunteered to participate in the study. Due to thestructure of the school and pressure from the parents, it was not possible to have acontrol group. The subjects underwent an eight-week movement programme(FITKIDZ), after which they were retested.Results showed a statistically significant improvement in abdominal strength,Body Mass Index (BMI) and flexibility (Sit-and-reach scores and trunk lifts).Qualitative results also showed a statistically significant improvement in thechildren's performance oflocomotor skills. Correlation matrices between the physicalfitness components and locomotor skills indicated that the strongest straight-linerelationship existed between strength and locomotor co-ordination. The otherrelationships between the physical fitness components and locomotor co-ordinationwere not significant.It was concluded that the performance of locomotor skills improved, as didnumerous components of physical fitness of the subjects over the duration of thedesigned movement programme. However, it was noted that this improvement maybe partially due to normal maturation of the subject group and that the results fromthis study would be better supported ifit were possible to include a control group.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University