Effects of Fundamental Movement Training on Physical Fitness Parameters in Children Aged 8-10 Years
Effects of Fundamental Movement Training on Physical Fitness Parameters in Children Aged 8-10 Years

Summary/Abstract: Fundamental movement training may contribute to the development of physical fitness during childhood. This study investigated the effects of an eight-week fundamental movement training program on anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness parameters in children aged 8-10 years. Thirty-two primary school children were allocated to an experimental group (n=16; 8 girls and 8 boys) or a control group (n=16; 8 girls and 8 boys) using gender-stratified randomization. In addition to regular physical education classes, the experimental group participated in a fundamental movement training program three days per week for eight weeks, with each session lasting 50 minutes, whereas the control group continued routine physical education only. Anthropometric characteristics, strength, explosive performance, muscular endurance, speed, agility, flexibility, and shuttle-run performance were assessed before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using a 2×2 mixed-design repeated-measures analysis of variance, with time as the within-subject factor and group as the between-subject factor. Significant time×group interactions favoring the experimental group were observed for vertical jump, anaerobic power, standing long jump, 10m sprint, T-test agility, handgrip strength, 30-s push-up, 30-s sit-up, and shuttle-run performance (all p≤.025; ηp²=.156-.534). The largest interaction effect was observed for shuttle-run performance (p<.001, ηp²=.534). No significant time×group interactions were found for height, body mass, body mass index, flexibility, leg strength, or back strength (all p≥.062). These findings indicate that eight weeks of fundamental movement training produced greater improvements than routine physical education alone in cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, explosive performance, speed, agility, and handgrip strength. However, the program did not produce differential changes in anthropometric characteristics, flexibility, leg strength, or back strength. Structured fundamental movement activities may therefore represent a useful component of school-based physical education, although studies with larger samples and longer follow-up periods are needed.

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