Sensor-based Assessment of Gross and Fine Motor Development in Primary School Children

The present study aims to quantitatively assess gross and fine motor development in school children and investigate the influence of possible intrinsic factors. One hundred and fifty children from an Italian primary school participated in the study, which included assessments of anthropometric characteristics and characterization of gross and fine motor performance using wearable inertial sensors. When analysing gross motor development, the results showed that stance and double support duration increased with age, and that overweight was associated with a reduction in the development of automaticity. Quantitative assessment of fine motor skills showed that older children had shorter and less variable cycle durations and less regular and more complex movement patterns. The study highlights the advantages of using sensor-based assessments for monitoring gross and fine motor development in children.