Samuel W. Logan

The Relationship Between Motor Skill Proficiency and Body Mass Index in Preschool Children

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between motor proficiency and body mass index (BMI) in preschool children. Thirty-eight children ages 4–6 years had their BMI calculated and were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2; Henderson, Sugden, & Barnett, 2007). These data were analyzed in two ways. The correlation between BMI and MABC-2 percentile ranks was calculated. Next, the groups were subdivided based on BMI status (high, M = 85.5; medium, M = 49.8; low, M = 10.8), and compared using t tests to determine if differences existed in MABC-2 percentile ranks. No significant relationship existed between MABC-2 and BMI percentile ranks (r = -.237). However, significant differences in MABC-2 percentile ranks existed between high and low (p = .042), and high and medium (p = .043) groups. These results suggest that preschool children classified as overweight or obese may have lower motor proficiency than their normal weight and under weight peers. This study indicates there is a direct relationship between motor proficiency and BMI in the preschool population.

Modified ride-on car for mobility and socialization: single-case study of an infant with Down syndrome.

Purpose: Before the onset of walking, children with Down syndrome experience limited mobility yet are never considered candidates for traditional powered mobility devices. The purpose of this single-case study is to quantify the feasibility and family perceptions of including modified ride-on car use as an option for increasing daily mobility, socialization, and fun for a child with Down syndrome. Methods: A 13-month-old child, Natalie, and her family were video recorded during the 28-week study using her ride-on car in their home and community. Results: Natalie demonstrated and her family reported increased movement, mobility, and socialization over the study period. Conclusions: Ride-on car use appears feasible, fun, and functional to increase daily mobility for pediatric populations working toward independent walking.

Comparison of performance on process- and product-oriented assessments of fundamental motor skills across childhood

ABSTRACT Process-oriented motor competence (MC) assessments evaluate how a movement is performed. Product-oriented assessments evaluate the outcome of a movement. Determining the concurrent validity of process and product assessments is important to address the predictive utility of motor competence for health. The current study aimed to: (1) compare process and product assessments of the standing long jump, hop and throw across age groups and (2) determine the capacity of process assessments to classify levels of MC. Participants included 170 children classified into three age groups: 4–5, 7–8 and 10–11 years old. Participants’ skills were examined concurrently using three process assessments ((Test of Gross Motor Development-2nd edition [TGMD-2]), Get Skilled; Get Active, and developmental sequences) and one product measure (throw speed, jump and hop distance). Results indicate moderate to strong correlations between (1) process assessments across skills and age groups (r range = .37–70) and (2) process and product assessments across skills and age groups (r range = .26–.88). In general, sensitivity to detect advanced skill level is lowest for TGMD-2 and highest for developmental sequences for all three skills. The use of process and product assessments is suggested to comprehensively capture levels of MC in human movement.

Why the time is right for a radical paradigm shift in early powered mobility: The role of powered mobility technology devices, policy and stakeholders

Abstract This article explores the changing landscape of early pediatric powered mobility. We specifically focus on key indicators that suggest pediatric powered mobility technology (PMT) practice for very young children is poised for a radical paradigm shift. This shift will challenge the current purview of PMT design and function, how it is obtained, and its introduction to children and their families. We propose that this positive, yet radical shift is essential in achieving a standard of practice in which PMT provides for early exploration and participation for children with disabilities at an age concomitant with their non-disabled peers, and within socially inclusive environments. To sustain this new standard, we must acknowledge the significant disconnect that currently exists between clinical research supporting the use of PMT with very young children, and barriers to widespread device access, effective user-driven design and positive social perception of PMT. In this article, we discuss three areas that are particularly important for both shift and sustained change: the history and current availability of novel and conventional PMT devices, pediatric PMT policies and the role of children and families as primary stakeholders in PMT practices. Within each area, we suggest barriers, facilitators and future directions. Implications for Rehabilitation The time is right for reframing how powered mobility technology for very young children is conceived, designed, and implemented. In order for multiple innovative devices to survive in the powered mobility industry, it is important to continue to show the benefits of early powered mobility use for both traditional and non-traditional users, and also enact and enforce policy that promotes sustainable access and financial support for powered mobility technology. The experiences of children and families and the realities of everyday use of powered mobility technology must be brought to the forefront of a movement toward user-centered design. Advocacy efforts undertaken in partnership with families, clinicians, researchers, and disability communities are essential in recognizing mobility, and access to early powered mobility technology, as a human right.

Modified Ride-on Car Use by Children With Complex Medical Needs.

Purpose: The purpose of this report was to determine the feasibility of short-term modified ride-on car (ROC) use for exploration and enjoyment by children with complex medical needs. Methods: A single-subject research design was used (n = 3; age, 6 months to 5 years). Children were video-recorded using their modified ROC. Results: All children successfully learned how to independently drive a modified ROC. Two of the 3 children demonstrated high levels of enjoyment during use of a modified ROC. Conclusions: Modified ROC use is a feasible and enjoyable powered mobility device for children with complex medical needs.

The comparison of school-age children's performance on two motor assessments: the Test of Gross Motor Development and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children

Background: Competence in the motor domain is associated with positive, health-related outcomes. Physical education teachers often administer assessments into their programs to measure motor competence for a variety of reasons. Recently, researchers have questioned the relatedness of performance on different assessments. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare motor assessment outcomes of the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) in school-age children. Method: Sixty-five children (M = 6.7 years) completed the TGMD-2 and the MABC-2. The TGMD-2 includes two subscales: object control and locomotor skills. The MABC-2 includes three subscales: manual dexterity, aiming and catching, and balance. Standard scores and percentile rankings were used for analysis. Findings: Although 10 of the possible 12 Pearson correlations were significant, the range of r² values was 0.07–0.27 indicating low practical significance. A paired samples t-test revealed that participants scored higher on the MABC-2 (M = 42.2 percentile) compared to the TGMD-2 (M = 17.2 percentile, p < 0.01). A 2 (sex) × 3 (grade) MANOVA revealed no significant sex differences on total performance of the TGMD-2 (F = 0.85, p = 0.36) or the MABC-2 (F = 0.2, p = 0.66), indicating that boys and girls performed similarly on each assessment. Results also revealed no significant differences on total performance on the MABC-2 (F = 0.93, p = 0.4) based on the grade level. However, a grade difference was found on the TGMD-2 (F = 4.3, p = 0.02; η² = 0.128). Tukeys post hoc analysis revealed a significantly higher TGMD-2 performance for first graders compared to second graders (p = 0.03). No significant interaction effect was found for either assessment (p > 0.05). Results indicate that both assessments agreed on 9 out of 11 possible children as at-risk of Developmental Coordination Disorder (81.8% agreement) and 27 out of 29 children as delayed in the motor domain (93.1% agreement). Conclusions: The TGMD-2 and MABC-2 measure different aspects and/or levels of motor competence and should not be used interchangeably. Each assessment may be used to complement each other. Given the level of agreement between the TGMD-2 and the MABC-2 to identify children as at-risk of Developmental Coordination Disorder and developmentally delayed in the motor domain, it may be recommended that physical education teachers administer the TGMD-2 as part of annual testing. Physical educators can act as the first line of defense in early identification of motor delay and can make the appropriate referral based on TGMD-2 performance.

The influence of instructional climates on time spent in management tasks and physical activity of 2nd-grade students during physical education

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of two physical education (PE) instructional climates (mastery, performance) on the percentage of time students spent in a) moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and b) management tasks during PE in 2nd-grade students. Forty-eight 2nd graders (mastery, n = 23; performance, n = 25) participated in a daily, school-based five-week PE intervention. All students also participated in typical PE during a baseline phase, thereby serving as their own control group. The System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT) was used to describe the lesson context and students’ physical activity for each PE session. Students spent an average of 36.9%, 9.9%, and 23.5% of class time in management tasks during typical PE, mastery, and performance climates, respectively. The mastery climate spent significantly less time in management compared to the performance climate and typical PE (p < 0.001). Results indicated that students engaged in significantly more MVPA during the mastery (68%) and performance (67%) climates compared to typical PE (49.7%) across 24 lessons (p < 0.05). Results suggest that a mastery climate can decrease the percentage of time spent in management tasks and that a structured intervention can increase MVPA in 2nd-grade students.

Fundamental motor skills: A systematic review of terminology

ABSTRACT The three aims of this systematic review are to describe: (1) use of the term fundamental motor/movement skills (FMS) in published articles; (2) the quality of definitions; and (3) relative use of process- and product- oriented assessments to measure FMS. The inclusion criteria included: (a) peer-reviewed article, (b) printed in English, (c) published between January 2000 and 31 December 2015, (d) presence of either the term “fundamental motor or movement skill” in the title and/or abstract, and (e) FMS were a measured outcome. There has been an increase in the number of publications on FMS in recent years, with the majority of studies conducted in Australia (n = 41, 33%). Approximately 24% of studies (n = 30) did not provide any explicit definition of FMS. A majority of studies reported the use of process-oriented measures (n = 98, 79%) compared to product-oriented measures (n = 23, 19%), and few studies used both (n = 6, 5%). We recommend that researchers provide: (1) an operational definition of FMS that states FMS are the “building blocks” (or similar terminology) of more advanced, complex movements; (2) specific categories of skills that compose FMS; and (3) at least one specific example of a FMS.

Real-World Performance: Physical Activity, Play, and Object-Related Behaviors of Toddlers With and Without Disabilities

Purpose: To describe and compare the occurrence and co-occurrence of physical activity (PA), play, and object-related behaviors in toddlers with and without disabilities. Methods: Participants included 23 toddlers (21 with typical development (TD) and 2 with disabilities). Direct observation was used to describe the type and level of PA, play interactions, and object-related behaviors through video recordings. Results: Toddlers demonstrated high variability, occurrence, and co-occurrence of all behaviors. Toddlers with disabilities displayed less variability, occurrence, and co-occurrence of several behaviors. Conclusion: Toddlers with TD engage simultaneously in PA, play, and object-related behaviors for about 3 hours in a typical day. This same level of co-occurrence of behaviors may not be observed for children with disabilities. Intervention providers are encouraged to consider the behaviors of toddlers with TD, beyond the findings of this pilot study, as the reference standard when implementing technology and intervention strategies for children with disabilities.

Exploring preschoolers’ engagement and perceived physical competence in an autonomy-based object control skill intervention: A preliminary study

The purpose of this study was to describe children’s engagement during two (high and low) autonomy-based climates. Twenty-five preschool children participated in a nine-week object control skill intervention. Children completed the object control subscale of the Test of Gross Motor Development 2nd Edition and the perceived physical competence subscale of Harter and Pike’s Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance (1984). Skill attempts were tallied by video analyses. A skill attempt was considered appropriate if the movement was consistent with the correct execution of the skill and the goal of the task. Findings indicate (a) no significant difference in appropriate skill attempts between each climate, (b) no significant difference in appropriate skill attempts of low- and high- skilled children in each climate, (c) regardless of climate, children improved in object control percentile and low-skilled children improved significantly more than high-skilled children, and (d) high-autonomy group children significantly improved in pre- to post- intervention on perceived competence compared to the low-autonomy group, regardless of skill level. High-autonomy climates provide variations of task difficulty that may promote the development of perceived physical competence of preschool children.