The Effect of Physical Exercise on Fundamental Movement Skills and Physical Fitness among Preschool Children: Study Protocol for a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Guangxu Wang; Yahua Zi; Bo Li; Shan Su; Lei Sun; Fei Wang; Chener Ren; Yang Liu

doi:10.3390/ijerph19106331

The Effect of Physical Exercise on Fundamental Movement Skills and Physical Fitness among Preschool Children: Study Protocol for a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 23;19(10):6331. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19106331.

Authors

Guangxu Wang^{1

2}, Yahua Zi³, Bo Li^{1

4}, Shan Su¹, Lei Sun¹, Fei Wang¹, Chener Ren¹, Yang Liu^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ School of Physical Education and Sport Training, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China.
² College of Physical Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
³ School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China.
⁴ Institute of Sports Science, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China.
⁵ Shanghai Research Center for Physical Fitness and Health of Children and Adolescents, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China.

Abstract

Background: Evidence shows that physical exercise promotes preschoolers' fundamental movement skills (FMSs) and physical fitness (PF). However, studies that assess the effectiveness of different types of physical exercise interventions to improve FMSs and PF in preschool children remain scarce. To explore and compare the effectiveness of different physical exercise on FMSs and PF, interventions comprising ball games (BGs), rhythm activities (RAs), basic movements (BMs), and a combination of all related activities (multiple activities, MAs) will be conducted among preschoolers. Methods: A single-blind, five-arm, cluster-randomized trial will be conducted in kindergarten in Shanghai, China. In total, 300 healthy preschoolers, aged 4 to 5 years, will be randomized to four intervention groups (BG, RA, BM, or MA) and one control group (unorganized physical activities). Four intervention groups will receive three 30-min lessons weekly for 16 weeks. At the baseline, the end of the 16-week intervention, and the 6-month follow-up after the end of the intervention, the primary outcomes (FMSs and PF) and physical activity (PA), and sociodemographic and anthropometric data will be assessed. Discussion: This study will provide vital information regarding the effect of different physical exercise interventions on preschool children's FMSs and PF, PA, and the potential interactions between these domains. The most effective intervention strategy can be generalized to kindergarten and other preschool educational institutions in practice to promote preschoolers' development of FMSs and PF. Conclusions: This study protocol aims to provide a method to solve the problem of "how to arrange physical exercise and which kind of physical exercise program can promote FMS and PF better in preschool children".

Keywords: ball games; basic movements; health-related physical fitness; intervention; kindergarten; motor competence; multiple activities; rhythm activities.

Publication types

Clinical Trial Protocol
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child, Preschool
China
Exercise*
Humans
Physical Fitness*
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Schools
Single-Blind Method

Grants and funding

This study is funded by The National Social Science Found of China (19BTY077); Shanghai Key Lab of Human Performance in Shanghai University of Sport (11DZ2261100) will fund the publication of this manuscript. The fund management organs have the responsibilities of managing the funds and supervision of the implementation of this project. The research design needs to be approved by the sponsor before it can be funded; then, data collection, analysis, and interpretation are supervised by the sponsor. Writing of the manuscripts will not concern the sponsors, who put forward requirements for the quantity and quality of published papers.