Exploring associations between neuromuscular performance, hypermobility, and children’s motor competence

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences on motor competence between boys and girls aged 4 years old and investigate the existence of Relative Age Effect on their motor competence. In total, 132 preschool children were evaluated, of whom 60 (45.50%) were girls and 72 (54.5%) were boys. The distribution of the participants was from quarter 1 [n = 28 (21.2%)], quarter 2 [n = 52 (39.4%)], quarter 3 [n = 24 (18.2%)], and quarter 4 [(n = 28 (21.2%)], respectively. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was used to collect the data. The data show the main effects on quarter of birth factor in manual dexterity (MD; p < 0.001), in aiming and catching (A&C; p < 0.001), in balance (Bal; p < 0.001) and in total test score (TTS; p < 0.001). There are also statistical differences on gender factor in MD (p < 0.001) and in TTS (p = 0.031). A significant effect was also found in the interaction between two factors (gender and quarter of birth) in MD (p < 0.001), A&C (p < 0.001), and Bal (p < 0.001). There are differences in all the variables studied according to the quarter of birth and only in manual dexterity and in the total score if compared according to gender (the scores are higher in girls).

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The impact of COVID-19 home confinement on neuromuscular performance, functional capacity, and psychological state in Spanish people with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.msard.2021.103047 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 103047

Author(s):

Luis Andreu-Caravaca ◽

Domingo J. Ramos-Campo ◽

Linda H. Chung ◽

Pedro Manonelles ◽

Oriol Abellán-Aynés ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Functional Capacity ◽

Psychological State ◽

Neuromuscular Performance ◽

Performance Functional ◽

The Impact

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Evaluating the Factor Structure and Criterion Validity of the Canadian Little DCDQ: Associations Between Motor Competence, Executive Functions, Early Numeracy Skills, and ADHD in Early Childhood

Assessment ◽

10.1177/10731911211003967 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107319112110039

Author(s):

Kesha N. Hudson ◽

Michael T. Willoughby

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Developmental Coordination Disorder ◽

The United States ◽

Parent Report ◽

Criterion Validity ◽

Early Numeracy ◽

Motor Competence ◽

Numeracy Skills ◽

Coordination Disorder

The Canadian Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (Little DCDQ-CA) is a parent-report screening instrument that identifies 3- to 4-year-old children who may be at risk for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). We tested the factor structure and criterion validity of the Little DCDQ-CA in a sample of preschool-aged children in the United States ( N = 233). Factor analysis indicated that the DCDQ-CA was best represented by one factor. Using cutoff scores that were proposed by the developer, 45% of the sample was identified as at-risk for DCD. Although a much larger percentage of children was identified as at-risk than would be expected based on the prevalence of formal DCD diagnoses in the population, the Little DCDQ-CA demonstrated good criterion validity. Specifically, compared with their peers, children who exceeded the at-risk criterion demonstrated worse motor competence, executive functioning skills, and early numeracy skills and were rated as having greater ADHD behaviors by their teachers, all consistent with expectations for children who are at risk for DCD. Results are discussed as they relate to future use of the Little DCDQ-CA.

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Gender Differences on Motor Competence in 5-Year-Old Preschool Children Regarding Relative Age

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18063143 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 3143

Author(s):

Rubén Navarro-Patón ◽

Joaquín Lago-Ballesteros ◽

Víctor Arufe-Giráldez ◽

Alberto Sanmiguel-Rodríguez ◽

Carlos Lago-Fuentes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Preschool Children ◽

Motor Competence ◽

First Semester ◽

Relative Age ◽

Percentile Score ◽

Relative Age Effect ◽

Main Effect ◽

Movement Assessment ◽

Gender Factor ◽

Total Test

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences on motor competence between 5-year-old boys and girls and to investigate the existence of Relative Age Effect (RAE) on their motor competence. A total of 232 preschool children were evaluated of whom 134 (57.8%) were boys and 98 (42.2%) were girls. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was used to collect data. The data show a main effect on gender factor; there was a main effect in total score of manual dexterity (MD; p = 0.010), in total score of balance (Bal; p < 0.001), in total test score (TTS; p < 0.001), and in total percentile score (TPS, p < 0.001). In the semester of birth factor, there were differences in aiming and catching (A&C, p < 0.001), in Bal (p = 0.029) and in total percentile score (TPS, p = 0.010). Girls perform better in MD, Bal, TTS, and TPS than boys. Preschool children born in the first semester obtain, in general, a higher percentage and a higher percentile than their peers born in the second one. RAE is present in A&C, Bal, and TPS, with higher scores obtained by preschool children born in the first semester compared to those born in the second one.

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