Clinical Research Directory

Does Daily Physical Education Improve Motor Skill Development and Health-Related Physical Fitness in Preschool Children?

Background: During childhood, physical activity (PA) plays a fundamental role in motor development, as movement experiences during this critical period support the acquisition of both fine and gross motor skills (GMS) and foster an active lifestyle. This developmental phase, marked by regular engagement in PA and the progressive attainment of motor competence, has been consistently linked to a range of health benefits. Accordingly, early motor intervention programs have received considerable research attention for their demonstrated positive impact on children's motor skill development. Beyond such general approaches, more targeted strategies have also been explored, including programs aimed at increasing the amount of time devoted to PA within school settings. Prior studies have shown that incorporating structured exercise interventions-based on enjoyable, game-like activities-into the curriculum can significantly enhance children's fundamental motor skills. Method and Materials: A total of 258 preschool children (128 boys, 130 girls) were assigned to either a gender-balanced experimental group participating in an innovative, daily physical education program (EG; n=125) or a control group following the standard institutional curriculum (CG; n=133). The average age of participants was 6.07±0.42 years (EG: 6.05±0.43; CG: 6.10±0.40). In EG, participants had organized physical activity 5 days per week (3 days led by physical education specialists, 2 days by preschool teachers), with each session lasting approximately 30-40 minutes. The CG continued their usual routine with structured physical activity two times per week (1 day led by a specialist, 1 day by a teacher). The program was implemented over a period of six months. The Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) and Body Coordination Test for Children (KTK) were used to assess GMS, while the PREFIT battery was used to assess health-related physical fitness. Aim: Тhe study aimed to empirically determine the effects of an experimental physical education program in preschool institutions on the development of motor skills and the improvement of health-related physical fitness in preschool-aged children.

Effect of Plyometric Training on University Student Latin Dancers' Lower Limbs Explosive Strength and Skill Performance

The purpose of this study is to find out if plyometric training has an effect on lower limb explosive strength and skill performance in Latin dancers. The aim is to answer the following questions: 1. Does augmented style training increase dancers' lower limb explosive strength. 2. Whether plyometric training promotes specialized dance skills. 3. The relationship between lower limb explosive strength and specialized dance skills. The researchers set up an experimental group and a control group, the experimental group uses plyometric training and the control group performs traditional training, and finally, between-group and within-group comparisons are made. Participants will: Train for 90 minutes three times a week for eight weeks. Participants' lower limb explosive strength and skills will be measured before the start of the experiment and at the end of the experiment.