Physical fitness in children with movement difficulties

Objective This study examined physical fitness in 9- and 10-year-old children with and without movement difficulties. Design The whole sample of children completed the Test of Physical Fitness. which included nine component tasks. Setting School sports hall of participating children. Participants An initial sample of 67 children was ranked on their scores from the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. The 12 children with the highest scores were designated the group with movement difficulties, and the 12 children with the lowest scores Constituted the comparison group. Results Significant differences between the group with movement difficulties and the comparison group were found for all nine tasks and the total score for the Test of Physical Fitness. Conclusion The relatively poor performance of the group with movement difficulties is hypothesised to result from their lower levels of physical activity. Poor physical fitness in these children is an important concern for present and future health status. (C) 2007 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.