Motor fitness of 5- to 6-year-old children in Iran

Poster Presentation
Paper ID : 1313-12THCONG
Oral / Poster Presentation File: 1313-12THCONG.jpg 
Authors
1MSc in Exercise Physiology, Department of Physical Education, Alborz University, Abyek, Iran.
2Assistant Professor in Exercise Physiology, Department of Exercise Physiology, Sports Medicine Research Center, Sport Sciences Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
3PhD Student in Exercise Physiology, Department of Exercise Physiology, Islamshahr branch, Islamic Azad University, Islamshahr, Iran.
4Assistant Professor in Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
5PhD in Corrective Exercise, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to motor fitness among preschool girls and boys in Tehran, Iran.
In this cross-sectional study, 551 children aged five and six years in Tehran were selected as the study sample. The static balance, muscle power, and speed were used for evaluating motor fitness. Static balance by Stork balance stand test, muscle power by standing jump test, and speed by 20 m test were measured. Data were analyzed by independent t-test and one-way ANOVA at the significant level of P <0.05 using SPSS 22 software.
The results showed that: The mean and standard deviation of static balance of right leg for boys and girls were 17.65 ± 10.95 and 19.57 ± 12.14 s, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of static balance of left leg for boys and girls were 14.79 ± 9.01 and 15.77 ± 8.84 s, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of standing jump test for boys and girls were 75.07 ± 14.44 and 69.95 ± 12.58 cm, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of 20 m speed test for boys and girls were 6.01 ± 0.63 and 5.64 ± 0.63 s, respectively. Other findings of this study showed that girls performed significantly better than boys in static balance did (p>0.05). However, boys were better than girls in muscular power and speed (p<0.05).
These findings emphasize on the importance of planning to improve motor fitness as an intervention for promoting physical activity level and preventing the development of obesity in preschool children.
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