Attained levels of performance in a variety of motor skill change from early childhood through adolescence. Strength and motor performance are related with body size, physique and composition. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the characteristics of Italian children from Bologna (Emilia-Romagna) in the context of growth, body composition and functional characteristics, and the relationship among these components. The sample included 97 males and 66 females, aged 6-11 years. This study is a preliminary phase of a broader longitudinal project dealing with modifications in somatic and motor characteristics. The anthropometric dimensions included weight, height, sitting height, breadths, circumferences and skinfold thicknesses. Percentage fat was estimated with the procedures of Slaughter et al.(1988). Functional characteristics included lower back/upper thigh flexibility and strength tests: hand grip, standing board jump, ball throwing and shuttle run. In addition, tasks were performed in order to the degree of “coordination” (eye-hand coordination with a tennis ball throw test and kinaesthetic differentiation trough weight estimation test). The growth status of children from Bologna is congruent with Italian standards (Cacciari et al., 2002). Males are fatter than females and present an higher incidence of overweight, but they generally show better motor performance. Only flexibility is higher in females. Overweight subjects generally have poorer performances than normal weight subjects, in both sexes. Multivariate statistic allows to identify different cluster variables: one for anthropometric and one other for motor performance data. Height is the most correlated to motor tests variable and represent a link with both variable groups. The ball throwing test is the most correlated (test) with anthropometric data. From stepwise multiple regression analysis on motor parameters emerges that a substantial portion of the variance can be explained by somatic characteristics.
Anthropometry and motor performance in School-children from Bologna (Italy) / Toselli S. ; Merni F.; Ceciliani A. ; Ventrella A.R.; Semprini G. ; Brasili P.. - STAMPA. - (2006), p. 74. (Intervento presentato al convegno 15th Congress of the European Anthropological Association: Man and Environment: Trends and Challenges in Anthropology tenutosi a Budapest - Hungary nel 31 August- 3 september , 2006).
Anthropometry and motor performance in School-children from Bologna (Italy)
TOSELLI, STEFANIA;MERNI, FRANCO;CECILIANI, ANDREA;SEMPRINI, GABRIELE;BRASILI, PATRICIA
2006
Abstract
Attained levels of performance in a variety of motor skill change from early childhood through adolescence. Strength and motor performance are related with body size, physique and composition. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the characteristics of Italian children from Bologna (Emilia-Romagna) in the context of growth, body composition and functional characteristics, and the relationship among these components. The sample included 97 males and 66 females, aged 6-11 years. This study is a preliminary phase of a broader longitudinal project dealing with modifications in somatic and motor characteristics. The anthropometric dimensions included weight, height, sitting height, breadths, circumferences and skinfold thicknesses. Percentage fat was estimated with the procedures of Slaughter et al.(1988). Functional characteristics included lower back/upper thigh flexibility and strength tests: hand grip, standing board jump, ball throwing and shuttle run. In addition, tasks were performed in order to the degree of “coordination” (eye-hand coordination with a tennis ball throw test and kinaesthetic differentiation trough weight estimation test). The growth status of children from Bologna is congruent with Italian standards (Cacciari et al., 2002). Males are fatter than females and present an higher incidence of overweight, but they generally show better motor performance. Only flexibility is higher in females. Overweight subjects generally have poorer performances than normal weight subjects, in both sexes. Multivariate statistic allows to identify different cluster variables: one for anthropometric and one other for motor performance data. Height is the most correlated to motor tests variable and represent a link with both variable groups. The ball throwing test is the most correlated (test) with anthropometric data. From stepwise multiple regression analysis on motor parameters emerges that a substantial portion of the variance can be explained by somatic characteristics.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
