Assessing the effect of an exergames training protocol on the developmental levels of foundamental movement skills in childhood

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of an exergames-based training protocol on the fundamental movement skills developmental stages of children from primary school. That protocol was developed by means of exergames that support the development of object control and locomotor skills and it was performed by thirty-seven pupils (experimental group). At the same time, a control group (n=37) was involved in a training program based on free-play and team-sport activities. The skills developmental levels were measured by means of the test of gross-motor development before and after the protocol. A two-way ANOVAs with repeated measure were used to assess effects of the training program and the measurements (pre-, post-treatment) across time on the aforementioned skills. Before the treatment, the two groups were not statistically different in developmental levels, while post-treatment the proficiency level of the experimental group improved for both skills. Of
note, the effect was higher for locomotor than object control skill. These findings seem to encourage the use of the exergames in physical education lessons and they extent the knowledge about the effect of that emerging, ecological and low-cost technology for supporting the development of
locomotor skill in childhood.