Fundamental movement skills in preschoolers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a serial cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Physical inactivity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have hindered the development of fundamental movement skills in preschoolers. This serial cross-sectional study compared fundamental movement skills by age group before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019-2020), among Japanese preschoolers aged 3-5 years.

Methods

Of the 22 preschools within Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, 21 (95.5%) and 17 (77.3%) participated in the 2019 and 2020 surveys, respectively. We analyzed 608 and 517 preschoolers in both surveys. Fundamental movement skills were objectively assessed with a 25 m run, standing long jump, and softball throw, based on the Japanese physical activity guidelines for preschoolers. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare t

SUBMITTER: Abe T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9283913 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature