New Insight on Motor Behavior: The Link Between the Hopping Task and the Tracing Performance as Hint of Gross and Fine Motor Functions

Abstract

The gross motor coordination tasks are thought to be likely not linked to the fine motor coordination tasks. The authors aimed to investigate this matter through a network analysis linking graphomotor (by tablet PC tracing), gross coordination (by Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder items), and strength (by handgrip) parameters in school children. Interestingly, the authors found that “Hopping” was the strongest central node, with linkages to “Quality” and “Speed” on tracing test. Handgrip strength did not link to gross coordination and graphomotor parameters, except with “Pressure.” Graphomotor performances suggested substantial peculiarities in developmental trajectories. Sport participation did not influence gross coordination nor graphomotor performances. The authors suggest considering the functional link between hopping and graphomotricity both in planning physical education and in understanding coordination impairments, through the developmental trajectories.