Secular Trends in Gross Motor Coordination: A Study of Peruvian Children Living at High Altitude

Abstract

Purpose: To (1) describe secular trends in gross motor coordination (GMC) scores by sex and age; (2) investigate GMC trends adjusted for concomitant secular trends in height, weight, and overall physical fitness; and (3) examine trends in children’s frequencies within different GMC categories. Method: The sample comprises 1562 Peruvian children (690 in 2009 and 872 in 2019), aged 6–11 years, from Junín (a high-altitude region). GMC was assessed with the KörperkoordinationsTest für Kinder. Physical fitness was assessed with handgrip strength, standing long jump, and shuttle-run test. Height and weight were measured with standardized protocols. Analysis of variance, covariance, and logistic regression were used. Results: A negative secular trend in GMC (based on raw scores) for boys and girls aged 6–8 years was observed. However, a positive trend was observed at 11 years of age but only in boys. Finally, there were no significant changes in the likelihood of children having below-normal GMC from 2009 to 2019. Conclusions: Secular trends in GMC were negative in Peruvian children, especially at 6–8 years of age. Further, body size and physical fitness trends did not affect the negative secular trend. A high prevalence of children had below-normal GMC in both 2009 and 2019.