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- Tracking of gross motor coordination in Portuguese childrenPublication . Henrique, Rafael S.; Bustamante, Alcibíades V.; Freitas, Duarte L.; Tani, Go; Katzmarzyk, Peter T.; Maia, José A.The purpose of this study was to investigate the tracking of gross motor coordination (GMC) and to profile children at 6 years of age who consistently showed higher stability patterns in different levels of GMC. The participants were 245 children (123 boys and 122 girls) who were assessed longitudinally from 6 to 9 years of age. GMC was assessed using the Korperkoordinationtest fur Kinder (KTK) test battery. Anthropometry, physical activity, and health- and performance-related physical fitness were also measured. Cohen’s kappa (κ) was used to estimate tracking. Tracking was poor for all GMC tests (0.17 ≤ κ ≤ 0.38) and moderate for the GMC motor quotient (MQ) in both boys and girls (0.44 ≤ κ ≤ 0.45). Instability at the extremes was low in GMC tests and negligible for MQ. Children who consistently showed high GMC levels during the 4 years of follow-up were lighter, had lower body mass index and subcutaneous fat, and showed higher scores in physical fitness tests at 6 years of age than those who consistently had low GMC levels. In conclusion, GMC showed low-to-moderate tracking over time in childhood. However, children who consistently demonstrated high GMC levels over time had healthier profiles at 6 years of age.
- Physical fitness spurts in childhood: a study in boysPublication . Pereira, Sara; Garbeloto, Fernando; Guimarães, Eduardo; Santos, Carla; Baxter‐Jones, Adam; Tani, Go; Freitas, Duarte; Bustamante, Alcibíades; Katzmarzyk, Peter T.; Maia, JoséThis study aimed to (1) estimate age-at-mid-growth spurt (age-at-MGS) in Portuguese boys from two different regions—the Azores islands and Viana do Castelo, and (2) identify spurts in a variety of physical fitness (PF) components aligned by age-at MGS in the two samples. A total of 176 (Azores, n = 91; Viana do Castelo, n = 85) boys aged 6 years old were followed annually to 10 years of age. Age-at-MGS and spurts in PF components (speed, explosive muscular strength, abdominal muscular strength, agility, and flexibility) were identified for each sample. The timing and intensities of the spurts were estimated using a non-smooth mathematical proce dure. In Azorean boys, age-at-MGS occurred at 7.8 years (6.99 cm y−1), whereas in Viana do Castelo it occurred at 7.9 years (6.20 cm y−1). Spurt in speed was at tained 12 months after the MGS in both samples (0.53 and 0.35 cm y−1 in Azores and Viana do Castelo, respectively), whereas spurts in explosive muscular strength and flexibility occurred 12 months before the MGS and at the MGS (Azores: 21.59 and 5.52 cm y−1 and Viana do Castelo: 14.12 and 2.5 cm y−1, respectively). Agility and abdominal muscular strength peaked between 0 and 12 months after the MGS (Viana do Castelo: 0.37 m s−1 y −1 and 6.71 reps y−1 and Azores: 0.28 m s−1 y −1 and 19.36 reps y−1, respectively). Results indicate that developmental spurts in explosive strength and flexibility occur before, or are coincident with, the mid-growth spurt in height, whereas spurts in speed, agility, and abdominal muscular strength occur after, or coincident with, the mid-growth spurt in height.
- Patterns of physical performance spurts during adolescence: a cross-cultural study of Canadian, Brazilian and Portuguese boysPublication . Guimarães, Eduardo; Baxter-Jones, Adam D. G.; Pereira, Sara; Garbeloto, Fernando; Freitas, Duarte; Janeira, Manuel A.; Tani, Go; Katzmarzyk, Peter T.; Silva, Simonete; Bailey, Donald A.; Mirwald, Robert L.; Maia, JoséBackground: Data relating physical performance to the timing of the adolescent growth spurt are lim ited. Aim: This study identifies: (i) age-at-peak height velocity (APHV), (ii) physical performance spurt patterns aligned to APHV; and (iii) cross-cultural and time patterns in Canadian, Brazilian and Portuguese boys. Subjects and methods: A total of 512 boys (131 Canadian, 250 Portuguese and 131 Brazilian), 8–17 years of age were followed serially using longitudinal data. APHV was identified and five physical performance measures velocities [trunk extension (TE), trunk flexion (TF), standing long jump (SLJ), curl-ups (CU) and handgrip strength (HG)] were aligned at 6-month intervals, 4 years around the attainment of PHV. Velocities were estimated using a non-smooth mathematical procedure. Results: APHV was 13.9 ± 1.0, 13.4 ± 1.6 and 13.0 ± 0.8 years for Canadian, Brazilian and Portuguese boys, respectively. Maximal velocity in SLJ was attained between 12 and 6 months prior to PHV. For HG, peaks were attained 12–24 months after PHV. Maximal velocity in TE occurred between 12 and 0 months prior to PHV, while CU peaked between PHV and 6 months after PHV. Conclusion: Patterns of spurts in physical performance have remained relatively the same and do not appear to be influ enced by cross-cultural differences.
- Familial resemblance in gross motor coordination. The peruvian sibling study on growth and healthPublication . Valdívia, Alcibíades B.; Henrique, Rafael S.; Pereira, Sara; Chaves, Raquel N.; Tani, Go; Freitas, Duarte; Prista, Antonio; Stodden, David F.; Katzmarzyk, Peter T.; Hedeker, Donald; Maia, JoséBackground: The development of gross motor coordination (GMC) is governed by biological and environmental factors whose effect sizes are still unclear. Aim: To investigate sibling resemblance in GMC, as well as biological and environmental correlates of GMC among Peruvian children. Materials and methods: The sample comprised 1256 biological siblings (6–15 years old), from three geographical areas of Peru. GMC was assessed using the Korperkoordinationtest fur Kinder € (KTK) test battery. Anthropometry, biological maturation and physical fitness (PF) were also measured. Multilevel modelling was performed using Stata 14 software. Results: In general, sister–sister pairs (SS) showed the highest resemblance in GMC (q ¼ 0.24) com pared to brother–sister (BS) (q ¼ 0.10) and brother–brother (BB) pairs (q ¼ 0.07). On average, BB pairs had higher GMC than SS pairs and older siblings had higher GMC than younger siblings. Further, those with lower body mass index (BMI) and higher PF had higher GMC. There was also a significant inter action between age and PF with GMC. Siblings from the rainforest region demonstrated higher GMC than those from sea level and high-altitude siblings demonstrated lower GMC than their sea level peers. Conclusion: These results demonstrate statistically significant sibling resemblance in GMC. Age, BMI, PF and geographical area were significant correlates of GMC
- Developmental and physical-fitness associations with gross motor coordination problems in peruvian childrenPublication . Chaves, Raquel Nichele de; Valdívia, Alcibíades Bustamante; Nevill, Alan; Freitas, Duarte Luís de; Tani, Go; Katzmarzyk, Peter T.; Maia, José António Ribeirohe aims of this cross-sectional study were to examine the developmental characteristics (biological maturation and body size) associated with gross motor coordination problems in 5193 Peruvian children (2787 girls) aged 6–14 years from different geographical locations, and to investigate how the probability that children suffer with gross motor coordination problems varies with physical fitness. Children with gross motor coordination problems were more likely to have lower flexibility and explosive strength levels, having adjusted for age, sex, maturation and study site. Older children were more likely to suffer from gross motor coordination problems, as were those with greater body mass index. However, more mature children were less likely to have gross motor coordination problems, although children who live at sea level or at high altitude were more likely to suffer from gross motor coordination problems than children living in the jungle. Our results provide evidence that children and adolescents with lower physical fitness are more likely to have gross motor coordination difficulties. The identification of youths with gross motor coordination problems and providing them with effective intervention programs is an important priority in order to overcome such developmental problems, and help to improve their general health status.
- Physical fitness spurts in pre-adolescent boys and girls: Timing, intensity and sequencingPublication . Pereira, Sara; Santos, Carla; Tani, Go; Freitas, Duarte; Garbeloto, Fernando; Guimarães, Eduardo; Robinson, Leah E.; Baxter-Jones, Adam; Katzmarzyk, Peter T.; Maia, JoséWe aim to (1) estimate age of attainment of the peak mid-growth spurt in stature (age-at-peak MGS) in pre-adolescent boys and girls; (2) identify the timing, intensity, and sequences of physical fitness (PF) spurts aligned by the age-at-peak MGS; and (3) identify any sex differences in PF spurts aligned by age-at peak MGS. The sample included 180 Portuguese children (90 girls) aged 6 to 10 years at study entry who were followed annually for 4 years. Height, health-, and performance-related PF were assessed. Age-at peak MGS and PF spurts were estimated using a non-smooth mathematical procedure. Boys’ and girls’ age-at-peak MGS occurred at 7.8 ± 0.47 years and 8.0 ± 0.72 years, respectively. PF spurts’ timing aligned by age-at-peak MGS were as follows: (1) before age-at-peak MGS: boys – static strength, aerobic capacity, explosive leg strength, and flexibility; girls – speed, agility, aerobic capacity, and upper body strength; (2) coincident with age-at-peak MGS: girls – explosive leg strength and flexibility; (3) after age-at-peak MGS: boys – abdominal strength, upper body strength, agility, and speed; girls – abdominal strength and static strength. Boys and girls attained their MGS at relatively similar ages. However, the timing and sequences of PF spurts, aligned on age-at-MGS, were different between boys and girls.
- Are there gross motor coordination spurts during mid‐childhood?Publication . Santos, Marcos A. M. dos; Baxter‐Jones, Adam; Reyes, Ana C.; Freitas, Duarte; Henrique, Rafael S.; Chaves, Raquel N.; Bustamante, Alcibíades; Tani, Go; Katzmarzyk, Peter T.; Maia, JoséObjectives: The aims of this study were (1) to identify the timing of the mid growth spurt (MGS) in stature in children and (2) to identify gross motor coordina tion (GMC) spurts when aligned by the age of attainment of the MGS (aMGS). Methods: Stature, weight, and GMC were measured in 245 Portuguese children followed annually from 6 to 10 years. GMC was assessed and to estimate children's MGS in stature as well as GMC spurts in each of the four tests aligned by aMGS, we used a nonsmoothed polynomial methodology. Results: In boys, the aMGS was attained at 7.8 years, whereas in girls it was 8.0 years. In boys, the peak MGS was 6.2 cm yr−1 and in girls it was 6.4 cm yr−1 . In boys, the peak for walking backwards (WB) occurred 18 months before aMGS (14.9-points yr−1 ), jumping sideways (JS) was 12 months after aMGS (13.5-points yr−1 ), hopping on one leg (HO) was 18 months before aMGS (11.7-points yr−1 ), and shifting platform (SP) was 12 months before aMGS (6.8-points yr−1 ). In girls, WB spurts occurred 12 months after aMGS (13.3-points yr−1 ), JS was 12 months before aMGS (10.5-points yr−1 ), HO was coincident with aMGS (10.4-points yr−1 ), and SP was 18 as well as 12 months before aMGS (7.2-points yr−1 ). No differences were observed in the mean peak spurts between sexes in the GMC tests. Conclusions: Boys and girls reached their MGS in stature at about the same chro nological age. Spurts in GMC did not express themselves in the same biological timing relative to aMGS in stature, and there are sex differences.