Physical Activity in Adolescents with respect to Movement Quality and Quantity

Physical activity is a vital component of overall health and development. It has been widely proven that physical activity has beneficial effects on many aspects of physiological, psychosocial, and cognitive function. However, there is consistent evidence that the recommended physical activity durations and intensities are not being met by children and adolescents of all ages. This is, therefore, having a detrimental impact on health, with increased prevalence of overweight/obesity, diabetes, and other cardiometabolic conditions. This highlights the importance of understanding ways in which physical activity can be increased in this population and identifying which individuals are at risk of low physical activity levels in order to provide targeted interventions. Improving motor competence levels has been indicated as a strategy for improving physical activity levels in adolescents. It has been hypothesised that a certain level of motor competence is required to attain certain levels of physical activity. However, there is less conclusive evidence indicating this in adolescents with large varieties in methodologies used to measure motor competence. The main aims of this thesis were to investigate the differences in physical activity levels in adolescents with low and typical levels of motor competence, explore the interaction in walking performance in adolescents with low and typical levels of motor competence and investigate if walking control and motor competence level could predict physical activity duration and intensity levels. The first study compared the differences in physical activity levels in adolescents with low and typical levels of motor competence and assessed what motor competence cut-off scores were required in order to perform higher levels of physical activity. The results indicated that adolescents were more likely to perform lower levels of physical activity if they were in the low motor competence group and adolescents with higher motor competence were more likely to perform higher levels of physical activity. Motor competence cut-offs for higher levels of physical activity were at the 15th percentile when the full Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2nd edition (MABC2) was used and the 31st percentile when the balance subsection was used to measure motor competence. The second study examined the interaction between walking control under cognitive-motor interference and motor competence level in adolescents. The results indicated that walking control was exacerbated in adolescents with low motor competence as measured by the balance subsection of the MABC2 than their typically developed peers. Walking speed reduced and stride length variability increased more so in the low motor competence group compared to the typically developed group. Study 3 examined the predictive models of motor competence and walking control on physical activity durations and intensities. Results from this study indicated that both models were able to significantly predict different intensities of physical activity levels in adolescents, with stride length variability significantly predicting overall levels of physical activity and the balance subsection of the MABC2 significantly predicting vigorous levels of physical activity. These studies provide novel insight into the effects of low motor competence on physical activity durations and intensities, walking control and which measures may be used to predict low levels of physical activity due to low motor competence. In addition, it provides insight into methods for increasing higher levels of PA intensities through better balance control.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Year dc:date

2020

Author dc:creator

• Weedon, Benjamin David

Contributors dc:contributor

• Collett, Johnny

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.24384/381r-t238

OAI identifier oai:identifier

tle:6ad44eb0-ccac-4c85-bbf0-8a5a91b278ea:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1