title: Developmental and physical-fitness associations with gross motor coordination problems in Peruvian children.
abstract: The aims of this cross-sectional study were to examine the developmental characteristics (biological maturation and body size) associated with gross motor coordination problems in 5193 Peruvian children (2787 girls) aged 6-14 years from different geographical locations, and to investigate how the probability that children suffer with gross motor coordination problems varies with physical fitness. Children with gross motor coordination problems were more likely to have lower flexibility and explosive strength levels, having adjusted for age, sex, maturation and study site. Older children were more likely to suffer from gross motor coordination problems, as were those with greater body mass index. However, more mature children were less likely to have gross motor coordination problems, although children who live at sea level or at high altitude were more likely to suffer from gross motor coordination problems than children living in the jungle. Our results provide evidence that children and adolescents with lower physical fitness are more likely to have gross motor coordination difficulties. The identification of youths with gross motor coordination problems and providing them with effective intervention programs is an important priority in order to overcome such developmental problems, and help to improve their general health status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Technology - Parana, Av. Sete de Setembro, 3165, 80230901 Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: raquelchaves@utfpr.edu.br.
authors.forename: Raquel Nichele
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: de Chaves
authors.affiliation: National University of Education Enrique Guzmán y Valle, Enrique Guzmán y Valle S/N, La Cantuta, Chosica, Lima, Peru. Electronic address: huanta2609@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Alcibíades
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bustamante Valdívia
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, WS1 3BD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: a.m.nevill@wlv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nevill
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Madeira, Praça do Município, 9000-082 Funchal, Portugal. Electronic address: dfreitas@uma.pt.
authors.forename: Duarte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Melo Morais, 65, Cidade Universitária, 05508-030 São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: gotani@usp.br.
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, 6400 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA. Electronic address: Peter.Katzmarzyk@pbrc.edu.
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Katzmarzyk
authors.affiliation: CIFI(2)D, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa, 91, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: jmaia@fade.up.pt.
authors.forename: José António Ribeiro
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D010809:Physical Fitness; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Children; Gross motor coordination; Physical fitness; Poor motor proficiency