Health-related Fitness in Preschool Children with and without Motor Delays

AbstractPurposeSchool-age children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have poor health-related fitness (HRF), but little is known about when these deficits emerge. The purpose of this study was to determine if 4- and 5-year old children who meet the criteria for DCD exhibit poorer HRF than typically developing (TD) children, and if this relationship is mediated by vigorous physical activity (VPA) engagement.MethodsFive-hundred and ninety-two children participated (age 5.0±0.6 years) from the Coordination and Activity Tracking in CHildren (CATCH) study. Motor skills were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2), with groups defined as having DCD (≤5th %ile), at risk for DCD (rDCD; 6th-16th%ile), and typically developing (TD; >16th percentile). Measures of body composition included body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. Musculoskeletal fitness assessments included standing long jump distance, as well as peak and mean power assessed using a 30s Wingate protocol on a pediatric cycle ergometer. Time to exhaustion on a progressive, treadmill test was used to determine aerobic fitness. Flexibility and VPA were assessed using a sit-and-reach test and 7-day accelerometry, respectively.ResultsChildren in the DCD group had the poorest musculoskeletal and aerobic fitness, whereas TD children had the highest. No differences in body composition among groups were found. Daily vigorous physical activity was similar among groups and did not explain HRF differences.ConclusionsPreschool children with DCD have decreased anaerobic and aerobic fitness compared to TD children; however, VPA and body composition appear to be less affected by DCD in the early years. Early motor interventions may be able to improve fitness and reduce the risk of hypoactivity and obesity as children with DCD get older. Purpose School-age children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have poor health-related fitness (HRF), but little is known about when these deficits emerge. The purpose of this study was to determine if 4- and 5-year old children who meet the criteria for DCD exhibit poorer HRF than typically developing (TD) children, and if this relationship is mediated by vigorous physical activity (VPA) engagement. Methods Five-hundred and ninety-two children participated (age 5.0±0.6 years) from the Coordination and Activity Tracking in CHildren (CATCH) study. Motor skills were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2), with groups defined as having DCD (≤5th %ile), at risk for DCD (rDCD; 6th-16th%ile), and typically developing (TD; >16th percentile). Measures of body composition included body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. Musculoskeletal fitness assessments included standing long jump distance, as well as peak and mean power assessed using a 30s Wingate protocol on a pediatric cycle ergometer. Time to exhaustion on a progressive, treadmill test was used to determine aerobic fitness. Flexibility and VPA were assessed using a sit-and-reach test and 7-day accelerometry, respectively. Results Children in the DCD group had the poorest musculoskeletal and aerobic fitness, whereas TD children had the highest. No differences in body composition among groups were found. Daily vigorous physical activity was similar among groups and did not explain HRF differences. Conclusions Preschool children with DCD have decreased anaerobic and aerobic fitness compared to TD children; however, VPA and body composition appear to be less affected by DCD in the early years. Early motor interventions may be able to improve fitness and reduce the risk of hypoactivity and obesity as children with DCD get older. Corresponding author: John Cairney, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, 55 Harbord Street, WSB Rm 2044, Toronto ON, Canada M5S 2W6. 416-978-6563. john.cairney@utoronto.ca The CATCH study is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP 126015). SKD is funded by an Ontario Women's Heath Scholars Award. BWT is supported by a Canada Research Chair in Child Health & Exercise Medicine. CM is supported by the Lillie Chair in Childhood Disability Research. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. The results of the present study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation and do not constitute endorsement by ACSM. © 2018 American College of Sports Medicine

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