Integrated Strength and Fundamental Movement Skill Training in Children: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Competence in fundamental movement skills is essential to enable children to be physically active. We investigated the effect of an integrated fundamental movement skill with a strength training intervention on children’s fundamental movement skills. Seventy-two (53% female) 10- to 11-year-old children from three primary schools assented to take part in this study (87% compliance). Schools were randomly allocated to a control (no intervention; n = 21), fundamental movement skill (FMS) (n = 18) or FMS and strength (FMS+; n = 20) group. Interventions were delivered twice weekly for four weeks, in addition to normal physical education. FMS competence was measured through the Canadian agility and movement skills assessment (CAMSA) (product-process) and through countermovement jump (CMJ) and 40-m sprint tests (product). Improvements were observed in the CAMSA in both FMS (4.6, 95% confidence intervals 2.9 to 6.4 Arbitrary Units (AUs), second-generation p-value (pδ) = 0.03) and FMS+ (3.9, 2.1 to 5.3 AU, pδ = 0.28) with no difference beyond our minimum threshold of 3 AU observed between these intervention groups (pδ = 1). Clear improvements in CMJ were observed in FMS+ relative to the control (25, 18 to 32%, pδ = 0) and FMS groups (15, 6.1 to 24%, pδ = 0). These preliminary data suggest combined FMS and strength training warrants further investigation as a tool to develop fundamental movement skills in children.

Increasing Physical Activity and Fundamental Movement Skills of Primary School Students during the Covid-19 through Exergame

“…Another benefit of FMS is that it can reduce overweight or obesity in students (O'Brien, Belton, & Issartel, 2016) skip and kick. Previous studies in the UK and internationally reported that the rates of FMS among primary school students has decreased over time (Grainger, Innerd, Graham, & Wright, 2020). Similar to data found in Indonesia, the FMS of primary school students is still low and continues to decline due to an unhealthy lifestyle and rarely doing sports (Burhaein, 2017).…”

Efficacy of school‐based interventions for improving muscular fitness outcomes in children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Most studies (8/16) identified as controlled studies included a “fatal flaw” resulting in a “poor” rating, whereas six studies (35%) did not reported any “fatal flaw” (Faigenbaum et al, 2013, 2014, 2015; Granacher, Goesele, et al, 2011; Granacher, Muehlbauer, et al, 2011; Viciana et al, 2013). Only four studies described the randomization process (Alves et al, 2016; Grainger et al, 2020; Larsen et al, 2016; Marta et al, 2019) identifying the randomization sequence. The “blinding/shielding” components (item n.4) was inapplicable because it is virtually impossible to blind participants receiving an intervention in the school context, in this case an MF intervention.…”

Active Video Games Improve Muscular Fitness and Motor Skills in Children with Overweight or Obesity

“…Stricker et al [ 82 ] highlighted the importance of strength in children and adolescents and its relationship to motor competence. A very current study shows potential positive effects for the integrated combination of fundamental movement skill and strength training when delivered in a primary school setting with the aim of improving motor competence [ 83 ]. On the other hand, as expected, a correlation was found between the percentage of improvement of motor skills and the percentage of improvement in CMJ.…”