Body mass index and coordination in 10-12 years old turkish tennis players

Body mass index and coordination in 10-12 years old turkish tennis players

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of low and high Body Mass Index (BMI) status on hand-eye coordination (HEC) and manual dexterity (MD) in 10-12 years old children.

Methods: Forty four children (16 boys and 28 girls; mean±SD: age, 10,64±0,96 years; body weight, 41,55±7,88 kg; height, 150,03±7,99 cm) volunteered to participate. Children had played tennis at least 3 years. BMI of children was measured and participants divided three groups according to BMI percentile of them (Group 1: %5-15, group 2:%16-75 and group 3:%76-95 percentile of BMI). Group 1 (low percentile of BMI) was compared with Group 3 (high percentile of BMI) to determine effect of BMI on coordination. Coordination of the children was measured by HEC time (HECt), error (HECe) and MD tests.

Results of boys and girls were evaluated separately. In boys, there were no significant differences (p>0,05) between group 1 (HECt: 37,69±14,91 sec.; HECe: 4,75±1,71; MD: 52,84±3,26 sec.) and group 3 (HECt: 48,82±9,44 sec.; HECe: 4,56±2,45; MD: 48,27±5,31). In girls, there were no significant differences (p>0,05) between group 1 and 3 on HECt (group 1: 47,33±13,87 sec.; group 3: 41,93±9,48 sec.) and MD (group 1: 48,58±5,98 sec.; group 3: 52,54±6,41 sec.). On the other hand, there was a significant difference (pConclusion:Measurement of coordination is very difficult. Usually performance and motor learning combine in the sports fields. Some measurements can recognize this combination in laboratory, for instance time of the HEC measurement related to performance, besides error of HEC related to learning of the skills. Accordingly, results of this study indicated that slim girls did less error than normal ones on HECe but results of the boys were not same. The differences between girls and boys may connect with growth differences of gender.

INTRODUCTION

In the game of tennis hand-eye coordination is so important because of the changing of the meeting point and time of the racket and the ball (1,2). Some study was found that there is a relationship between the hand-eye coordination and tennis competition (3). Coordination may show different development in various ages (4).

METHODS

Subjects

Forty four children (16 boys and 28 girls; mean±SD: age, 10,64±0,96 years; body weight, 41,55±7,88 kg; height, 150,03±7,99 cm) volunteered to participate. Children had been playing tennis for 3 years.

Test

BMI of children was measured after participants divided three groups according to BMI percentile of them (Group 1:%5-15, group 2:%16-75 and group 3:%76-95 percentile of BMI). Group 1 (low percentile of BMI) was compared with Group 3 (high percentile of BMI) to determine effect of BMI on coordination. Coordination of the children was measured by HEC time (HECt), error (HECe) and MD tests.

Figure 1: Hand-eye coordination apparatus. Figure 1. Body mass index and coordination in 10-12 years old turkish tennis players

Contenido disponible en el CD Colección Congresos nº 16

 

Figure 2: Manual dexterity apparatus.

Figure 2. Body mass index and coordination in 10-12 years old turkish tennis players

Contenido disponible en el CD Colección Congresos nº 16

 

RESULTS

Table 1: Characteristics of the subjects and measurement results.

Table 2. Body mass index and coordination in 10-12 years old turkish tennis players

Contenido disponible en el CD Colección Congresos nº 16

  Figure 1: Measurement results of girls.

In boys, there were no significant differences (p>0,05) between group 1 (HECt: 37,69±14,91 sec.; HECe: 4,75±1,71; MD: 52,84±3,26 sec.) and group 3 (HECt: 48,82±9,44 sec.; HECe: 4,56±2,45; MD: 48,27±5,31). In girls, there were no significant differences (p>0,05) between group 1 and 3 on HECt (group 1: 47,33±13,87 sec.; group 3: 41,93±9,48 sec.) and MD (group 1: 48,58±5,98 sec.; group 3: 52,54±6,41 sec.). On the other hand, there was a significant difference (pCONCLUSION Measurement of coordination is very difficult. Usually performance and motor learning combine in the sports fields. Some measurements can recognize this combination in laboratory, for instance time of the HEC measurement related to performance, besides error of HEC related to learning of the skills. Accordingly, results of this study indicated that slim girls did less error than normal ones on HECe but results of the boys were not same. The differences between girls and boys may connect with growth differences of gender.