title: Locomotive and non-locomotive activity as determined by triaxial accelerometry and physical fitness in Japanese preschool children.
abstract: This study examined the potential relationship between participation in physical activity (PA) assessed by triaxial accelerometry and physical fitness testing, including health-related and skill-related parameters of fitness, in 136 Japanese preschoolers (65 girls and 71 boys, 5.5 ± 0.6 years).  In partial correlation analyses, grip strength and 20m shuttle run test were positively correlated with time spent in physical activity ratio (PAR) ≥ 4. Better scores on standing long jump distance and jump over and crawl under tests were associated with lower sedentary time and greater moderate-to-vigorous PA time and PAR ≥ 4 time, and increased physical activity level. Moreover, 25m run speed was positively correlated with time spent in PAR ≥ 4 and locomotive activity. These findings suggest that development of both health-related (muscle strength and aerobic fitness) and skill-related fitness (power, agility and speed) may make engagement in PA easier for preschool children, although further research on the cause-effect relationship is needed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Integrated Sciences, J.F. Oberlin University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hikihara
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohkawara
authors.forename: Shigeho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000379:methods; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors