Relationship between motor performance and physical fitness score in 7- to 8-year-old children

• Published in: Brazilian Journal of Kinanthropometry and Human Performance Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 94 - 99
• Main Authors: Krebs, R J, Duarte, M G, Nobre, G C, Nazario, P F, dos Santos, JOL
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: 01.01.2011
• ISSN: 1415-8426
• DOI: 10.5007/1980-0037.2011v13n2p94

There are many tests for the evaluation of motor performance or physical fitness that take into account different criteria such as movement forms and patterns, time, distance, and repetitions of each task for the analysis of performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between motor performance and physical fitness scores in children. Fifty children of both genders aged 7 to 8 years (25 boys and 25 girls) participated in this study. The Test of Gross Motor Development - Second Edition (TGMD-2) was used for the evaluation of motor performance. Physical fitness was assessed by three specific tests proposed by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). The results showed statistical significance and weak correlations among some skills such as run, horizontal jump, hop, leap, underhand roll, and medicine ball throw. The equivalent use of both tests may not be adequate since each test has its own peculiarities in terms of assessment criteria.Original Abstract: Existem muitas sugestoes de testes que se propoem a avaliar o desempenho motor e a aptidao fisica. Estes testes levam em consideracao diferentes criterios para analise do desempenho como formas e padroes de movimento, tempo, distancia e repeticoes em cada tarefa. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a relacao entre os escores de desempenho motor e aptidao fisica de criancas. Participaram deste estudo, 50 criancas (25 meninos e 25 meninas) com idades entre 7 e 8 anos e de ambos os sexos. O Test of Gross Motor Development - Segunda Edicao (TGMD-2) foi utilizado para avaliar o desempenho motor. Para avaliacao da aptidao fisica, foram utilizados 3 testes especificos propostos pela American Alliance of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (AAHPERD). Os resultados mostraram diferencas estatisticas e correlacoes fracas em algumas habilidades como corrida, salto horizontal, saltito, passada, arremesso por baixo e arremesso de medicine ball. O uso equivalente de ambos os testes pode nao ser adequado, visto que cada teste tem suas proprias peculiaridades a respeito dos criterios de avaliacao.