The effect of regular physical activities on neurological status, developmental parameters, and physical fitness in preschoolers

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to compare the neurological status, developmental parameters and physical fitness of children who engage in regular physical activity in the preschool period versus those who do not. The study included 305 healthy children aged 4–6 years, consisting of 154 girls and 151 boys. In addition to evaluating the demographic characteristics of children; Touwen Neurological Examination, Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) II, and Preschool Physical Fitness (PREFIT) test battery were used to assess neurological status, developmental parameters, and physical fitness, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found between neurological status (p = 0.046), developmental parameters (p = 0.000) and physical fitness (Standing Long Jump (p = 0.008), handgrip (p = 0.006)) of preschool children who engaged in regular physical activity compared to those who did not. Preschool children who participated in regular physical activity had no neurological problems and exhibited better developmental parameters and physical fitness than their inactive peers.

KEYWORDS:

• Regular physical activities
• neurological status
• developmental parameters
• physical fitness
• preschoolers

Acknowledgements

Abdulhamit Karademir conceived the research idea. Abdulhamit Karademir and Halil Alkan developed the entire proposal, data processing and analysis. Halil Alkan and Mehmet Canlı drafted the manuscript. Abdulhamit Karademir, Halil Alkan, and Mehmet Canlı have contributed to the final manuscript by providing critical feedback on the results and their interpretation.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Abdulhamit Karademir

Abdulhamit Karademir is an associate professor; Department of Early Childhood Education, Faculty of Education, Muş Alparslan University, Muş, Türkiye.

Halil Alkan

Halil Alkan is an associate professor; Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muş Alparslan University, Muş, Türkiye.

Mehmet Canlı

Mehmet Canlı is a lecturer; School of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Kırşehir, Turkey.