Relationship between motor ability and step count or physical activity intensity in preschool children

Children need a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity per day, a standard proposed by various national guidelines. To our knowledge, however, it is unclear whether there is any positive association between motor ability and vigorous intensity time in preschool children. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the relationship between motor ability and step counts or vigorous physical activity time in preschool children (n＝754, 383 boys and 371 girls). We measured the subjects' motor ability while performing 6 activities. The performance in each activity was rated on a 5-point scale (5-1), as suggested by Japanese previous study. Daily physical activity was assessed using accelerometers (Lifecorder EX, Suzuken, Japan) throughout the day for 7 consecutive days. LC intensity assessed LC1-6 (lower intensity than runnning) and LC7-9 (higher intensity than running). LC7-9 time (min/day) was from 23.4±8.3 to 24.4±8.2 in boys and from 18.0±5.2 to 18.9±7.8 in girls on weekdays and from 15.5±9.1 to 17.0±10.7 in boys and from 15.2±8.3 to 15.5±9.4 in girls on weekends, respectively. The total fitness scores were weakly but significantly positively correlated with step counts in both sexes and LC7-9 time in girls. Until B rank in the total fitness scores, step counts (step/day) needed 14685.4 boys and 12419.0 girls on weekdays, and 11384.4 boys and 10398.0 girls on weekends, respectively. LC7-9 needed 24.1 boys and 18.5 girls on weekdays, and 21.4 boys and 17.1 on weekends at least, respectively. Our findings were suggested daily step counts and LC7-9 time to improve motor ability in preschool children.