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Journal of healthcare engineering2022; 2022; 3623686; doi: 10.1155/2022/3623686

Effects of Equine-Assistant Activity on Gross Motor Coordination in Children Aged 8 to 10 Years.

Abstract: Generally, adequate motor coordination (MC) ability is one among the critical factors for the overall development of children. In this paper, we have thoroughly analyzed the effects of equine-assistant activity (EAA) training on MC in children. For this purpose, MC test, specifically for children, was used to the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK), and a total of 100 children, particularly those in 8 to 10 age, were equally separated into equine-assistant activity group (EAAG) and control group (CG), respectively. The EAAG group has attended a 14-week EAA training program, while the CG joined in physical education activity once per week. The experimental results have indicated that four indices of KTK test (i.e., backward walk [WB], height jump [HH], jumping sideways [JS] and moving sideways [MS], and motor quotient [MQ] score) showed significant differences ( < 0.05) after a 14-week EAA training. Furthermore, the indices of physical fitness test, standing long jump (SLJ), and sit and reach (SAR) showed significant differences ( 0.05) after a 14-week EAA training. In conclusion, there were improvements in MC, lower limb strength, and flexibility by EAAG for those who participated in a 14-week EAA training, and this study has demonstrated the effectiveness of the KTK assessment of MC in children 8 to 10 years.
Copyright © 2022 XiaoDong Cheng et al.
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Publication Date: 2022-01-15 PubMed ID: 35075387PubMed Central: PMC8783754DOI: 10.1155/2022/3623686Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Retracted Publication

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates the impact of equine-assistant activity (EAA) training on the motor coordination of children aged between 8 to 10 years. The findings suggest that EAA has a significant positive influence on children’s motor coordination, lower limb strength, and flexibility.

Methods

  • The researchers employed a test specifically designed to measure motor coordination in children, known as the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK).
  • 100 children aged between 8 to 10 years were divided equally into two groups for the study: the equine-assistant activity group (EAAG) and a control group (CG).
  • The EAAG underwent a 14-week EAA training program, while the CG participated in a standard physical education activity once per week.

Results

  • Four key indices of the KTK test: backward walk, height jump, jumping sideways, moving sideways, and motor quotient score displayed significant improvements after the 14-week EAA training for the children participating in the EAAG.
  • Physical fitness test indices, standing long jump and sit and reach, showed significant improvements in the EAAG after the EAA training program, suggesting a boost in their lower limb strength and flexibility.
  • However, changes to the handgrip index were only minor and not statistically significant after the EAA.

Conclusion

  • The study outcome suggests that engaging in equine-assistant activity significantly improves motor coordination, lower limb strength, and flexibility in children aged 8 to 10 years.
  • The KTK assessment demonstrated its effectiveness in measuring these changes and could be used for future investigations in this field.

This research offers valuable insights into how alternative methods like EAA can be employed to enhance physical development in children, adding to the growing body of knowledge on this subject.

Cite This Article

APA
Cheng X, Kong X, Fan Y, Wang X, Li Z, Wu H. (2022). Effects of Equine-Assistant Activity on Gross Motor Coordination in Children Aged 8 to 10 Years. J Healthc Eng, 2022, 3623686. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3623686

Publication

Journal of healthcare engineering
ISSN: 2040-2309
NlmUniqueID: 101528166
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 2022
Pages: 3623686
PII: 3623686

Researcher Affiliations

Cheng, XiaoDong
  • Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing 100191, China.
  • Comprehensive Key Laboratory of Sports Ability Evaluation and Research of the General Administration of Sport of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Function Assessment and Technical Analysis, Beijing 100191, China.
Kong, XiaoYang
  • Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing 100191, China.
Fan, Yongzhao
  • Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing 100191, China.
  • Comprehensive Key Laboratory of Sports Ability Evaluation and Research of the General Administration of Sport of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Function Assessment and Technical Analysis, Beijing 100191, China.
Wang, XiangYu
  • Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing 100191, China.
  • Comprehensive Key Laboratory of Sports Ability Evaluation and Research of the General Administration of Sport of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Function Assessment and Technical Analysis, Beijing 100191, China.
Li, ZiHao
  • Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing 100191, China.
Wu, Hao
  • Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing 100191, China.
  • Comprehensive Key Laboratory of Sports Ability Evaluation and Research of the General Administration of Sport of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Function Assessment and Technical Analysis, Beijing 100191, China.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Hand Strength
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Motor Skills
  • Physical Fitness

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Engineering JOH. Retracted: Effects of Equine-Assistant Activity on Gross Motor Coordination in Children Aged 8 to 10 Years. J Healthc Eng 2023;2023:9823570.
    doi: 10.1155/2023/9823570pubmed: 36814545google scholar: lookup
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