A study of age differences in whole-body reaction time and its relationship to leg extensor muscle strength in preschool children

Whole-body reaction time is used as a measure of athletic ability in preschool children. The purpose of this study was to compare whole-body reaction time in preschool children in relation to leg extensor muscle strength. The participants were 198 preschool children aged 3 to 6 years, who underwent assessment of whole-body reaction time and isometric right leg extensor muscle strength. Whole-body reaction time (T4) was fractionated into movement start time (T1) , counter movement time (T2) , motor time (T3) . There was a significant difference between each age for T1 (p < 0.001) , T3 (p < 0.01) and T4 (p < 0.001) . However, there was no significant difference in time of T2. There was correlation between whole-body reaction time and leg extensor muscle strength. The measurement of T1 led to assessment of the development of the brain and nervous system. And we made a proposal that the difference of exercise experience might influence the result for the measurement of T4.