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Fundamental movement skills in preschoolers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a serial cross-sectional study.
Abe, Takafumi; Kitayuguchi, Jun; Fukushima, Noritoshi; Kamada, Masamitsu; Okada, Shinpei; Ueta, Kenji; Tanaka, Chiaki; Mutoh, Yoshiteru.
  • Abe T; Center for Community-Based Healthcare Research and Education (CoHRE), Shimane University.
  • Kitayuguchi J; Physical Education and Medicine Research Center UNNAN.
  • Fukushima N; Physical Education and Medicine Research Center UNNAN.
  • Kamada M; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University.
  • Okada S; Physical Education and Medicine Research Center UNNAN.
  • Ueta K; Department of Health Education and Health Sociology, School of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo.
  • Tanaka C; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University.
  • Mutoh Y; Physical Education and Medicine Research Foundation.
Environ Health Prev Med ; 27(0): 26, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1962958
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Physical inactivity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have hindered the development of fundamental movement skills in preschoolers. This serial cross-sectional study compared fundamental movement skills by age group before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019-2020), among Japanese preschoolers aged 3-5 years.

METHODS:

Of the 22 preschools within Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, 21 (95.5%) and 17 (77.3%) participated in the 2019 and 2020 surveys, respectively. We analyzed 608 and 517 preschoolers in both surveys. Fundamental movement skills were objectively assessed with a 25 m run, standing long jump, and softball throw, based on the Japanese physical activity guidelines for preschoolers. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the fundamental movement skills data between periods.

RESULTS:

For the 25 m run, participants aged 5 years were faster before than during the pandemic (p = 0.018), while participants aged 3 and 4 years showed no significant differences. Participants aged 3-5 years showed no significant differences before and during the pandemic for the standing long jump (p ≥ 0.072). For the softball throw, all grades scored higher before than during the pandemic (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic impeded the development of fundamental motor skills, especially for object control skills. This highlights the need for interventions aimed at developing fundamental motor skills in preschoolers during and after the pandemic.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Child, preschool / Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: Environ Health Prev Med Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Child, preschool / Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: Environ Health Prev Med Year: 2022 Document Type: Article