(Press-News.org) Contact information: Eero A. Haapala
358-407-25402
University of Eastern Finland
Poor motor performance linked to poor academic skills in the first school years
Children with poor motor performance at the school entry were found to have poorer reading and arithmetic skills than their better performing peers during the first three years of school. However, no relationship was found between cardiovascular fitness and academic skills, according to a new study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
The study investigated the relationships of cardiovascular fitness and motor performance in the first grade to reading and arithmetic skills in grades 1–3 among 174 Finnish children as part of The Physical Activity and Nutrition (PANIC) Study at the University of Eastern Finland and The First Steps Study at the University of Jyväskylä. Children who performed poorly in agility, speed and manual dexterity tests and had poor overall motor performance in the first grade had lower reading and arithmetic test scores in grades 1–3 than children with better performance in motor tests. Especially children in the lowest motor performance third had poorer reading and arithmetic test scores than children in the other thirds. These associations were stronger in boys than girls. Unexpectedly, however, cardiovascular fitness was not related to academic skills.
The findings of the study highlight the importance of motor performance and movement skills over cardiovascular fitness for children's school success during the first years of school. The academic development of children with poor motor performance should be carefully monitored and appropriate actions to support the development of reading, arithmetic and movement skills should be started when needed.
###
For further information, please contact:
Eero A. Haapala
MSc in Exercise Medicine
Institute of Biomedicine
University of Eastern Finland
tel. +35840 725 402
Timo A. Lakka
Professor of Medical Physiology
Specialist in Internal Medicine, MD, PhD
Institute of Biomedicine
University of Eastern Finland
puh. +35840 770 7329
Website of The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study:
http://www.uef.fi/en/biolaaketiede/lasten-liikunta-ja-ravitsemus
Website of The First Steps Study: https://www.jyu.fi/ytk/laitokset/psykologia/huippututkimus/alkuportaat/en
Poor motor performance linked to poor academic skills in the first school years
2013-10-28
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Crying wolf: Who benefits and when?
2013-10-28
Crying wolf: Who benefits and when?
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A crisis at work can bring out the best in colleagues, often inspiring more cooperation and self-sacrifice. A new study from Indiana University and the University of Guelphhas found that the benefits are not shared ...
New imaging research shows increased iron in the brain in earliest stages of MS
2013-10-28
New imaging research shows increased iron in the brain in earliest stages of MS
VIDEO:
As Western University scientist Ravi Menon, Ph.D., explains, it's ...
Discovery could lead to anti-clotting drugs with less risk of bleeding
2013-10-28
Discovery could lead to anti-clotting drugs with less risk of bleeding
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have discovered a molecular switch that causes small, beneficial clots that stop bleeding to enlarge further during wound healing. ...
GVSU study on gender: Who counts as a man and who counts as a woman
2013-10-28
GVSU study on gender: Who counts as a man and who counts as a woman
ALLENDALE, Mich. — Gender is no longer determined solely by biological factors, according to a new study by a Grand Valley State University researcher whose article, "Doing Gender, Determining ...
Chewing their way to success
2013-10-28
Chewing their way to success
How mice and rats developed a unique masticatory apparatus making them evolutionary champions
The subfamily of rodents known as Murinae (mice, rats, etc.), which first appeared in Asia 12 million years ago, spread ...
'Designer' sedative may provide new alternative for colonoscopy
2013-10-28
'Designer' sedative may provide new alternative for colonoscopy
Remimazolam combines good sedation with fast onset and recovery
San Francisco, CA. (October 28, 2013) – Developed using molecular-level techniques, the "designer" sedative drug remimazolam ...
Young fibromyalgia patients report worse symptoms than older patients, Mayo Clinic study shows
2013-10-28
Young fibromyalgia patients report worse symptoms than older patients, Mayo Clinic study shows
Research is among several Mayo studies being presented at American College of Rheumatology meeting
SAN DIEGO -- It may seem counterintuitive, but young and middle-aged fibromyalgia ...
Researchers discover how cancer 'invisibility cloak' works
2013-10-28
Researchers discover how cancer 'invisibility cloak' works
Lipid secreted by tumors inhibits immune response against cancer
Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered how a lipid secreted by cancer tumors prevents the immune system from mounting ...
Reproductive biologists move in vitro fertilization knowledge forward
2013-10-28
Reproductive biologists move in vitro fertilization knowledge forward
2 new papers from reproductive biologists at UMass Amherst report advances in understanding the basic processes of sperm capacitation that may one day improve IVF success by ...
Bumps in the road to developing long-lasting, single-injection nerve blocks
2013-10-28
Bumps in the road to developing long-lasting, single-injection nerve blocks
A study of liposomal bupivacaine gives encouraging -- but puzzling -- results
San Francisco, CA. (October 28, 2013) – Can a new liposomal bupivacaine product provide long-lasting ...