Motor fitness in Dutch youth: differences over a 26-year period (1980-2006)

J Runhaar; D C M Collard; A S Singh; H C G Kemper; W van Mechelen; M Chinapaw

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2009.04.006

Motor fitness in Dutch youth: differences over a 26-year period (1980-2006)

J Sci Med Sport. 2010 May;13(3):323-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2009.04.006. Epub 2009 Jul 9.

Authors

J Runhaar¹, D C M Collard, A S Singh, H C G Kemper, W van Mechelen, M Chinapaw

Affiliation

¹ EMGO Institute, Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center, The Netherlands.

PMID: 19592305
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2009.04.006

Abstract

This study aimed to compare neuromotor fitness test scores of 9-12-year-old Dutch youth in 2006 with scores of same aged children in 1980. Body height, body weight and performance on neuromotor fitness test items were measured in 2050 Dutch children from 9 to 12 years in 2006 and were compared with data of 2603 same aged Dutch children measured in 1980 with the same neuromotor fitness test battery. Dutch 9-12 year olds in 2006 were significantly taller and heavier than their peers in 1980. Age- and sex-specific performance on almost all neuromotor fitness test items was significantly worse in 2006. Thus, our data suggest that neuromotor fitness of Dutch youth has significantly decreased over the past 26 years.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anthropometry
Child
Female
Humans
Male
Netherlands
Physical Fitness*
Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
Task Performance and Analysis