The Assessment of Movement Competence in Czech School Age Children Using BOT-2 Test

Abstract

Introduction: A sufficient level of movement competence (MC) is a significant health and psychosocial factor. Overall, there is a strong consensus that movement competence is positively associated with all health-related variables. A lower level of movement competence in childhood is reflected in physical activity participation and engagement in physical activity later in life. The Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency, 2nd version (BOT-2), is considered the most comprehensive diagnostic tool. There are no normative criteria of this test in the Czech Republic. The aim of this pilot study was to estimate a cross-cultural validity of the BOT-2 in a sample of Czech school children.Methods: The research sample was comprised of 83 school children (43 girls and 40 boys) of average age 10.15 ± 1.66 years. For the estimation of a MC we used the BOT-2, 2nd version - complete form. Results: The results of our tested group show that the group’s MC is in the lower part of the average level in the area of total motor composite (standard score 46.4±11.8). On average, the weakest performance was recorded in the area of fine manual control. More in-depth analysis showed that the weakest subcomponent of the area of fine manual control was fine motor precision (scale score 10.1±5.5). The group’s most successful area was the component concerning strength and agility.Conclusion: As a pilot study the project indicated that the BOT-2 can be valid for the Czech school children in 4 motor area composites regarding the manual coordination, coordination, strength and agility assessment only. It is not valid for the assessment of fine manual control. In a more detailed analysis of 8 subcategories we observe significantly worse results of Czech children in the area of fine motor precision.

Keywords

• movement competence
• bot-2
• developmental coordination disorder