The Relationship between Foot Status and Motor Status in Preschool Children: A Simple, Comparative Observational Study

Abstract

Background: The research objective of the study is to determine the differences in the manifestation of the motor status of normally fed preschool test subjects, classified into groups according to foot status. Methods: This is a simple, comparative observational study. Preschool children included in this study have been subjected to anthropometric measurements in order to determine BMI, tests for motor skills assessment (running at 20 m from a high start, standing broad jump, backwards polygon, rectangular seated forward bend, plate tapping, sit-ups for 60 s, and bent arm hang), and a determination of foot status. The total sample was comprised of 202 test subjects who attended a regular sports program, aged 3.9 to 6.5 years of decimal age (M = 141; Age = 5.3 ± 0.74; Height = 117.3 ± 7.1; Weight = 22 ± 3.7; F = 61; Age = 5.1 ± 0.73; Height = 114.9 ± 7.4; Weight = 21.2 ± 3.8), of which 153 (75.7%) were normally fed, 6 (3%) were undernourished, 30 were overweight (14.9%), and 13 were obese (6.4%). Results: In the total sample, 30 (14.9%) subjects had normal arch feet, 90 (44.6%) high arched feet, and 41 (20.3%) flat feet. We found 41 (20.3%) subjects who had different left and right foot statuses within this sample. The data were processed by means of nonparametric tests (the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests) at a significance level p ≤ 0.05. Conclusion: The results show that there is a statistically significant difference between groups of subjects with different foot statuses in the manifestation of motor status in most tests, with a significance level of p ≤ 0.01, and in tests of sit-ups for 60 s and the bent arm hang, there is a statistically significant difference, the level of which is p ≤ 0.05. It is only in the inclination test of rectangular seated forward bend that no statistically significant difference was displayed.

Foot arches and physical fitness of 5-year-old children

“…Statistically significant differences were noted by the authors in the 20 m run and the ball throw. Similar conclusions were presented by Kojić et. al (2021) based on research on Serbian children.…”

Anthropometric Influence on Preschool Children’s Physical Fitness and Motor Skills: A Systematic Review

“…The influence of weight status on performance in motor skills and fitness tests was examined [ 25 , 26 , 31 ], as was the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behavior, body composition, and fitness [ 23 , 24 , 29 ]. Some studies also described norms or percentiles for motor development scores relative to anthropometric measures [ 22 , 28 ].…”

“…Hwang et al [ 27 ] found that physical activity was a common predictor of higher BMI in children with and without motor delay. For instance, Kojić et al [ 28 ] reported significant differences in motor status among preschoolers with varying foot statuses, suggesting that even subtle variations in physical characteristics can impact motor skill development. Collectively, these findings emphasize the importance of early identification and intervention for children with impaired growth, development, or specific conditions that may affect their physical fitness and motor skills.…”

The effects of Customized Arch Support Insoles for Children with developmental delays: A Prospective, Single-blind, Randomized Controlled Study

“…From a biomechanical perspective, foot status has been shown to signi cantly impact motor performance, including jumping, running, or hopping, in preschool children, according to an observational study [30]. Hence, using foot insoles is a standard non-surgical method to correct lower extremity biomechanics in children.…”

“…Hence, using foot insoles is a standard non-surgical method to correct lower extremity biomechanics in children. It was observed that children with at foot performed the worst in motor assessments, followed by those with standard arch foot and high arch foot [30]. In a study by Selby-Silverstein et al, foot orthotics were used in children aged 3 to 6 years with Down syndrome, and it was found that the variability of gait parameters and walking speed decreased compared to participants without Down syndrome [31].…”