Physical fitness in 10-year old children: Relationship between anthropometric measures and motor abilities

Abstract

The study aimed to comprehensively investigate associations between anthropometric features and motor abilities in young school-age children. The sample included 285 students (140 boys and 145 girls, aged 10.44 ± 0.33 years). Sex differences in the anthropometric and motor variables were determined by an independent t-test, while multiple linear regression was used to examine whether anthropometric characteristics could predict motor test scores. Girls were significantly taller, with greater sitting height, leg and arm length, as well as hip width. Also, greater body mass and skinfold thickness, as well as better scores on flexibility tests were observed in girls compared to boys (t=1.384-3.290, p<0.05). Conversely, boys demonstrated better scores on tests to evaluate coordination, agility, aerobic endurance, and strength. Except for movement frequency and flexibility, all motor items showed small-to-large correlations with anthropometric measures. Skinfold thickness, body mass index, arm girth, together with leg length and wrist diameter, explained 44% of the explosive strength variance, while 32% of aerobic endurance was explained by leg girth, BMI, and skinfold thickness. These results indicate that anthropometric measures have a significant influence on several motor abilities, especially explosive strength and aerobic endurance, while the role of anthropometry on flexibility, frequency of movement, and coordination seem to be negligible.