. 2024 Feb 7;21(1):14.

doi: 10.1186/s12966-023-01546-7.

Motor skill competence and moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity: a linear and non-linear cross-sectional analysis of eight pooled trials

L M Barnett^#^{1

2}, S J J M Verswijveren^#³, B Colvin⁴, D R Lubans^{5

6}, R M Telford^{7

8}, N J Lander³, N Schott⁹, M Tietjens¹⁰, K D Hesketh³, P J Morgan⁵, T Hinkley¹¹, K L Downing³, R D Telford⁷, K E Cohen⁵, N D Ridgers^#^{3

12}, G Abbott^#³

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, 3125, Australia. lisa.barnett@deakin.edu.au.
² Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia. lisa.barnett@deakin.edu.au.
³ Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, 3125, Australia.
⁴ School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
⁶ Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Keskussairaalantie 4, 40600, Jyväskylä, Finland.
⁷ University of Canberra, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia.
⁸ The Australian National University, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU College of Health & Medicine, 62 Mills Rd, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia.
⁹ Department of Sport Psychology and Human Movement Sciences Organization, University of Stuttgart, Institute for Sport and Movement Science, Allmandring 28, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany.
¹⁰ University of Muenster, Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Horstmarer Landweg 62 b, 48149, Münster, Germany.
¹¹ , Melbourne, Australia.
¹² University of South Australia, Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, Allied Health and Human Performance, Frome Road, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 38326890
PMCID: PMC10848369
DOI: 10.1186/s12966-023-01546-7

Motor skill competence and moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity: a linear and non-linear cross-sectional analysis of eight pooled trials

L M Barnett et al. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2024.

. 2024 Feb 7;21(1):14.

doi: 10.1186/s12966-023-01546-7.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, 3125, Australia. lisa.barnett@deakin.edu.au.
² Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia. lisa.barnett@deakin.edu.au.
³ Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, 3125, Australia.
⁴ School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
⁶ Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Keskussairaalantie 4, 40600, Jyväskylä, Finland.
⁷ University of Canberra, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia.
⁸ The Australian National University, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU College of Health & Medicine, 62 Mills Rd, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia.
⁹ Department of Sport Psychology and Human Movement Sciences Organization, University of Stuttgart, Institute for Sport and Movement Science, Allmandring 28, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany.
¹⁰ University of Muenster, Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Horstmarer Landweg 62 b, 48149, Münster, Germany.
¹¹ , Melbourne, Australia.
¹² University of South Australia, Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, Allied Health and Human Performance, Frome Road, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 38326890
PMCID: PMC10848369
DOI: 10.1186/s12966-023-01546-7

Abstract

Background: Few studies have examined the relationship between motor skill competence and device-measured physical activity in large samples and none have used non-linear modelling. This study assessed the linear and non-linear associations between motor skill competence and physical activity in children using pooled data from eight studies.

Methods: Cross-sectional ActiGraph accelerometer and motor skills competence data from 988 children (50.8% boys) aged 3-11 years were included. Total, object control and locomotor skill competence were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Skill Development. Linear mixed models were fitted to examine linear associations between motor skill competence and physical activity. Then, restricted cubic splines models were used to assess potential non-linear relationships. Interactions by sex and age were assessed.

Results: There was evidence of positive linear associations between total skill, and object control and locomotor skills, with moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity; however, the associations with total skill competence and object control better fitted a non-linear model. Non-linear models indicated associations were positive but relatively weak in the low to mid ranges of TGMD/object control scores but at high ranges (~ > 70 out of 100/ and ~ 35 out of 50) the association strength increased for both moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity. There were sex interactions for locomotor skills only, specifically for vigorous activity with boys having a stronger positive association than girls.

Conclusions: There appears to be a threshold for object control skill proficiency that children need to reach to enhance their physical activity levels which provides support for a motor skill "proficiency barrier". This provides a tangible benchmark for children to achieve in motor competence programs.

Keywords: Accelerometer; Child; Locomotor; Object control.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Plots of non-linear associations between TGMD total scores and moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity outcomes for the pooled sample. Shaded regions show 95% confidence intervals around estimated physical activity levels. The vertical line placed at TGMD total score of 70 shows the approximate point at which the strength of associations (slopes) increase noticeably

**Fig. 2**
Plots of non-linear associations between TGMD object control scores and moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity outcomes for the pooled sample. Shaded regions show 95% confidence intervals around estimated physical activity levels. The vertical line placed at TGMD Object Control score of 35 shows the approximate point at which the strength of associations (slopes) increase noticeably

**Fig. 3**
Plots of linear associations between TGMD locomotor scores and vigorous-intensity physical activity, separately by sex (sex interaction p < 0.0005). Shaded regions show 95% confidence intervals around estimated physical activity levels. PA: Physical activity

**Fig. 4**
Plots of linear associations between TGMD total scores and vigorous-intensity physical activity among boys, separately by age group (age group interaction p < 0.0005). Shaded regions show 95% confidence intervals around estimated physical activity levels. PA: Physical activity

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Motor skill competence and moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity: a linear and non-linear cross-sectional analysis of eight pooled trials

Affiliations

Motor skill competence and moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity: a linear and non-linear cross-sectional analysis of eight pooled trials

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

MeSH terms

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical