Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jul 5;10(3):255.
doi: 10.3390/jfmk10030255.

A Multimodal Physical Program Combining Abacus Use and Exercise to Improve Motor Coordination and Flexibility in Primary School Children

María Del Carmen Carcelén-Fraile  1 , Agustín Aibar-Almazán  2 , Alba Rusillo-Magdaleno  3 , Alberto Ruiz-Ariza  3
Affiliations

A Multimodal Physical Program Combining Abacus Use and Exercise to Improve Motor Coordination and Flexibility in Primary School Children

María Del Carmen Carcelén-Fraile et al. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. .

Abstract

Background: During early childhood, physical development plays a critical role in overall growth, influencing not only health but also academic and social outcomes. In this context, the present randomized controlled trial aims to analyze the effects of a combined intervention using physical exercise and abacus training on flexibility and motor coordination in early primary school children. Methods: A total of 82 girls and boys participated in this study, of which 41 belonged to the experimental group that carried out a combined training of physical exercise and the use of an abacus for 12 weeks and 41 to a control group that did not receive any intervention. Flexibility was measured with the Sit and Reach test and motor coordination with the motor coordination test. Results: In this study, statistically significant improvements were observed in flexibility in both the right and left legs and in all domains related to motor coordination in the training group. Conclusions: The results of this study support the effectiveness of a multidimensional approach that integrates physical and cognitive activities, such as the use of the abacus, to improve coordination and flexibility in children, contributing to comprehensive development in early childhood education.

Keywords: abacus; children; flexibility; motor coordination; physical exercise.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant flowchart for the study process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Inter- and intragroup comparisons regarding flexibility. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; SRT: Sit and Reach test.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Inter- and intragroup comparisons regarding motor coordination. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; MC: Motor Coordination.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Inter- and intragroup comparisons regarding LC and OCC. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; LC: Locomotion Coordination; OCC: Object Control Coordination.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Inter- and intragroup comparisons regarding FOC and HOC. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; FOC: Foot Object Coordination; HOC: Hand Object Coordination.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Brown T.T., Jernigan T.L. Brain development during the preschool years. Neuropsychol. Rev. 2012;22:313–333. doi: 10.1007/s11065-012-9214-1. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Gualtieri S., Finn A.S. The Sweet Spot: When Children’s Developing Abilities, Brains, and Knowledge Make Them Better Learners Than Adults. Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 2022;17:1322–1338. doi: 10.1177/17456916211045971. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ruedl G., Cocca A., Wirnitzer K.C., Tanous D., Drenowatz C., Niedermeier M. Primary school children’s health and its association with physical fitness development and health-related factors. AIMS Public Health. 2023;11:1–18. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2024001. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Welsh J.A., Nix R.L., Blair C., Bierman K.L., Nelson K.E. The Development of Cognitive Skills and Gains in Academic School Readiness for Children from Low-Income Families. J. Educ. Psychol. 2010;102:43–53. doi: 10.1037/a0016738. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Omenebele-Kaizar V., Ochuko-Alordiah C. Understanding the role of play in promoting cognitive, social, and emotional development in school children: Implications for counsellors and evaluators. J. Contemp. Stud. Educ. 2023;2

LinkOut - more resources