Gross Motor Competence and Peak Height Velocity in 10- to 14-Year-Old Canadian Youth: A Longitudinal Study

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate gross motor competence and growth spurt in Canadian youth. Eighty-two children (38 boys, 44 girls) were assessed over a time period of five years. Growth rate was measured quarterly; motor competence was evaluated once per year using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. Peak height velocity (PHV) occurred at a significantly younger age in the girls (11.3 ± 0.4 years) than the boys (13.4 ± 0.3 years; p < .001), and growth rate during PHV was significantly greater in the boys than the girls (2.8 ± 1.3 vs. 2.0 ± 0.7 cm/quarter; p = .003). Gross motor competence outcomes were significantly above the North American normative scores (p < .05) over the measured time period. After the occurrence of PHV, strength, strength/agility, and gross motor skill significantly decreased in girls (p < .01), and running speed/agility significantly decreased in boys (p < .05). This finding emphasizes that motor competence in pre-adolescent children may suddenly decrease after their growth spurt.

KEYWORDS:

• Peak height velocity
• physical education
• bruininks-oseretsky test
• motor skill proficiency

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Superintendent of Foundations for the Future Charter Academy for granting access to its Southwest Elementary school campus and the South Middle school campus. Thank you as well to the school Principals, classroom teachers and Physical Education specialists for permitting the research assistants access to the students during class time. The author would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the research team throughout this project, including the research assistants that were led by Dr Nadine Van Wyk (Research Coordinator). Editorial support was provided by Kimberly Nagan (Editorial Advisor). The authors would also like to acknowledge the on-going research support related to physical literacy and motor proficiency from Vivo for Healthier Generations. Vivo is a Calgary charity that is committed to working with partner organizations in the pursuit of innovative and evidence-based health solutions in schools and the community. Finally, and most importantly, the authors would like to thank Alberta Sport Connection for providing longitudinal support over six years to complete this project. The Alberta Sport Connection is a provincial corporation that is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of Albertans by encouraging active lifestyles.

Additional information

Funding

The Alberta Government through Alberta Sport Connection provided longitudinal financial support to this research. Additional and ongoing funding was also provided by Vivo for Healthier Generations. Mount Royal University provided access to equipment, resources, and IT assistance (in kind).