Inter-individual Differences in Children's Kinematic Patterns of Running and their Relationship with Body Mass Index

Abstract

The goal of this research was to perform a kinematic analysis of the motor structure of running in children of an early and preschool age in order to determine inter-individual differences and the connection with the body mass index. The sample of participants consisted of 174 children from the Rijeka Kindergarten. The motor patterns of children's running were recorded with a video camera, and the videos were analysed in the Kinovea 0.9.5 software system. For all variables, the association was tested with Pearson's correlation coefficient, while the t-test for an independent sample and reference constant testing was used to test inter-individual differences. Interindividual differences in the kinematic parameters of children's running indicate significant heterogeneity in the performance of motor tasks. Excessive body mass in children significantly affects the prevention of their complete motor development and realization of motor potential, especially when performing more complex motor structures of running.

DOI: 10.5671/ca.48.3.1