Gross Motor Competence and Peak Height Velocity in 10- to 14-Year-Old Canadian Youth: A Longitudinal Study |
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| Authors: | Dwayne P Sheehan Karin Lienhard |
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| Institution: | Faculty of Health, Community and Education, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Canada |
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| Abstract: | The objective of this study was to evaluate gross motor competence and growth spurt in Canadian youth. Eighty-two children (38 boys, 44 girls) were assessed over a time period of five years. Growth rate was measured quarterly; motor competence was evaluated once per year using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. Peak height velocity (PHV) occurred at a significantly younger age in the girls (11.3 ± 0.4 years) than the boys (13.4 ± 0.3 years; p < .001), and growth rate during PHV was significantly greater in the boys than the girls (2.8 ± 1.3 vs. 2.0 ± 0.7 cm/quarter; p = .003). Gross motor competence outcomes were significantly above the North American normative scores (p < .05) over the measured time period. After the occurrence of PHV, strength, strength/agility, and gross motor skill significantly decreased in girls (p < .01), and running speed/agility significantly decreased in boys (p < .05). This finding emphasizes that motor competence in pre-adolescent children may suddenly decrease after their growth spurt. |
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| Keywords: | Peak height velocity physical education bruininks-oseretsky test motor skill proficiency |
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