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University of Tartu

Physical activity and motor skill development in children

Abstract

Appropriate physical activity in children and adolescents is widely accepted as beneficial for health and physical activity in adulthood. In the present dissertation a complex approach in the assessment of children’s physical activity and fundamental motor skills was applied. A total of 194 children from 7 to 11 years of age participated in this study. Children’s physical activity was measured using parental recall, systematic observation, motion sensors and heart rate monitoring. Overhand throwing and standing long jump were performed in field conditions as an indicator of fundamental motor skill development. The results revealed that the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels of the boys were significantly higher than that of the girls in all age groups. In addition, physical activity of rural schoolchildren was higher compared with urban children. The mean heart rate during intensified elementary school classes was 157 beats per minute. Finally, developmental level of fundamental motor skills was related to skill-specific outside-school physical activity but not to general level of physical activity. Our results demonstrate for the need of interventions to promote habitual physical activity of schoolchildren.Laste ja noorukite kehaline aktiivsus on oluliseks teguriks tervisliku eluviisi omandamisel kasvueas ning selle säilitamisel täiskasvanuna. Käesolevas väitekirjas on kehalise aktiivsuse temaatikale lähenetud kompleksselt, hinnates laste kehalist aktiivsust vabal ajal ja kehalise kasvatuse tundides ning selgitades välja kehalise aktiivsuse seosed põhiliigutusvilumuste omandamisega. Uuringus osales kokku 194 7-11-aastast kooliõpilast, kelle kehalist aktiivsust hinnati lapsevanemate raporti, süstemaatilise vaatluse, liikumissensori ja pulsitestri abil. Lisaks mõõdeti laste põhiliigutusvilumuste arengut. Tulemused näitavad, et poisid on kehaliselt aktiivsemad kui tüdrukud, samuti on maapiirkondades elavate laste kehaline aktiivsus suurem kui linna lastel. Intensiivistatud algklasside kehalise kasvatuse tundides saavutati sellisel tasemel laste kaasahaaratus, mille tulemusena nende keskmine südame löögisagedus tundides tõusis 157 löögini minutis. Lisaks selgus, et põhiliigutusvilumuste väljakujunemine on seotud vilumuste spetsiifilise, mitte aga laste üldise kehalise aktiivsusega. Saadud tulemused võimaldavad välja töötada sekkumisprogramme, mille eesmärgiks on kehalise inaktiivsuse vähendamine ja selle kaudu laste tervise edendamine.

Author and committee

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Author
  • Päll, Peep

Identifiers

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Identifier
hdl:10062/10872
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.ut.ee:10062/10872

Chain of custody

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University of Tartu
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Last updated
2026-07-24
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citation

Päll, Peep. Physical activity and motor skill development in children. 2009.