The relationship between fundamental movement skills and physical activity in preschoolers: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Objective

The systematic review was used to evaluate the relationship between fundamental movement skills (FMS) and physical activity (PA) in preschoolers.

Data sources

PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched for terms related to preschoolers' FMS and PA from the establishment to July, 2022.

Results

21 cross-sectional studies and 5 longitudinal studies with 6561 preschoolers were included. There was a significant positive association between FMS and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (r = 0.25, 95%CI 0.22∼0.27) and total physical activity(TPA) (r = 0.23, 95%CI 0.19∼0.27). The locomotor and object control skills were significant positive association with both MVPA and TPA.

Conclusion

There is a significant positive association between FMS and MVPA as well as between FMS and TPA, indicating the movement proficiency is associated with increased PA and vice versa.

KEYWORDS:

• Preschoolers
• fundamental movement skills
• physical activity
• systematic review

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Zhen Xu

Zhen Xu is a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education, Nankai University. His research focuses on fundamental motor skills development in preschool children.

Si-Jia Shen

Si-Jia Shen is a PhD candidate at China Swimming College, Beijing Sport University. Her research focuses on children's motor skill learning and development.

Yu-Hong Wen

Yu-Hong Wen is a Professor in the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism, Beijing Sport University. She specializes in motor development of children and adolescents.