Article
Objective. To determine the impact of physical activity on the morphological, cognitive, and motor development of children aged 5 to 8 years, both active and non-active.
Methods and design. Physical, cognitive (memory, attention, verbal, visual-logical, spatial, and analytical-synthetic thinking) and motor development (30m run; shuttle run, 3x10 m; alternating run (smooth, 10 m; side step with alternating legs, 5 m x 2; backward, 10 m); standing long jump, long jump force accuracy at 50, 75, and 25% of maximum, grip strength, and arm flexion and extension in support) were assessed. The state of the cardiovascular and autonomic nervous systems was assessed based on heart rate and blood pressure, as well as the type of autonomic regulation. Physical activity was determined based on parental surveys. Pearson's paired correlation coefficient was used to analyze data from 888 individual studies of children aged 5-8 years with varying physical activity levels.
Results and discussion. The volume of physical activity in children aged 5-8 years, with wide variability, increases consistently from ages 5 to 7-8, averaging from 4 to 8.8 hours per week. Its impact is most pronounced on motor development, minimal at age 5, primarily affecting speed-strength skills and less so coordination abilities. Physical and cognitive development do not show a significant influence of physical activity, with a moderate correlation between body fat (%), attention, and verbal reasoning at age 5. Cardiovascular function and regulation are largely determined by age-related development, with little influence from exercise volume.
Conclusion. The results indicate that quantitative characteristics of physical activity do not exhaust the content of its impact on a child's development, but require consideration of its qualitative content.
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