Motor Competence Prevalence in School-Aged Czech Children: A Cross-Sectional Study Iva Šeflová, Josef Chudoba, Michael Duncan, Aleš Suchomel, Václav Bunc Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 2025 This study aimed to understand the motor competence (MC) level of Czech school-age children determined using the product-oriented Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (second edition) and to analyze the gender and age differences. The MC level in n = 637 children aged 6.0–11.0 years (46.6% girls) was evaluated using total motor composite and subcategories of fine and gross motor skills: fine manual control, manual coordination, body coordination, and strength and agility. Seventy-one percent of children had at least a satisfactory level of MC. The distribution of the total motor composite score of the Czech sample was uneven, with only 11.0% scoring above average and 29.4% scoring below average. However, we found low-level of MC in almost one third of children. The prevalence of well-below average results was found at 7%. Significant differences were found depending on age (p < .001), where we observed decreased MC with increasing age. Gender differences were reflected in the poorer level of fine motor skills in boys (p < .001). Given the high prevalence of low MC, these findings suggest the need for effective intervention in Czech children as an important prerequisite for comprehensive development in physical, psychosocial, and cognitive aspects.
Current Approaches to Motor Competence Assessment in School-Age Children Iva Šeflová, Jana Vašíčková, Luděk Kalfiřt, Aleš Suchomel Physical Activity Review, 2022 Introduction: The importance of motor competence is particularly evident at school ages when any intervention approaches have the most significant impact. Aim of Study: The theoretical study aims to provide an overview and compare the descriptive and psychometric characteristics of the assessment tools that we can use to determine the level of motor competence in primary school-aged children. We paid particular attention to the possibilities of identifying motor competence deficits. Material and Methods: From the overview list of assessment tools, we selected the following for more detailed analysis: Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2, Körperkoordinatationstest für Kinder, Test of Gross Motor Development-Third Edition, Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, Test zur Erfassung motorischer Basiskompetenzen. The presented article compares the possibilities of using these tests in the European environment in terms of their psychometric and descriptive characteristics. Results: Each submitted tests has certain advantages and disadvantages in the practical use, collection, evaluation, and interpretation of the data. Based on established criteria in descriptive and psychometric characteristics, we selected using the comparative method as the most appropriate means to assess the level of motor competence of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd edition. Conclusion: The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2nd edition, presents the most comprehensive diagnostic tool to assess motor competence and its difficulties, despite shortcomings such as the absence of normative-related criteria in more European countries and time-consuming testing. The time-consuming test and the suitability of individual access to the person being tested to collect and evaluate data make it difficult to establish the test battery as the gold standard in motor competence diagnostics. From a practical point of view, the material presented will help facilitate the choice of a specific assessment tool according to the educational or clinical goal of the research
Secular trends in the achievement of physical activity guidelines: Indicator of sustainability of healthy lifestyle in czech adolescents Josef Mitáš, Karel Frömel, Petr Valach, Aleš Suchomel, Michal Vorlíček, et al. Sustainability Switzerland, 2020 (1) Background: The increasing socio-economic and educational demands on adolescents should be reflected in their lifestyles accordingly. The aim of the study was therefore to identify the trends in the achievement of physical activity (PA) guidelines by Czech adolescents through objective and subjective PA monitoring. (2) Methods: The research was carried out between 2010 and 2017 and involved 49 secondary schools, 2 higher vocational schools, and 8 universities in the Czech Republic. In total, the projects involved 1129 girls and 779 boys. PA monitoring was performed by Yamax SW-700 pedometers and IPAQ-long questionnaires. (3) Results: The results according to the average number of steps/day confirm a decrease in the amount of PA in boys and girls and in the achievement of the recommended 11,000 steps/day. However, the estimates of meeting the recommended weekly PA expressed as MET-min/week based on the IPAQ-long questionnaire are not so convincing about the decrease. (4) Conclusions: The combination of objective monitoring of weekly PA using wearables and subjective estimates of weekly PA using a questionnaire regarding the ease of application, appears to be a sufficient indicator of the status of and trend in PA and thus the sustainability of a healthy lifestyle in youths.
Is pedometer-determined physical activity decreasing in Czech adults? Findings from 2008 to 2013 Jana Pelclová, Karel Frömel, Emil Řepka, Ladislav Bláha, Aleš Suchomel, et al. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2016 Objective measured trend data are important for public health practice. However, these data are rare for an adult population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe time trends in pedometer-determined physical activity of Czech adults (25–65 years) from 2008 to 2013. Participants were Czech national citizens whose physical activity was assessed objectively using a Yamax Digiwalker SW-700 pedometer (Yamax Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) for seven consecutive days in the period 2008 to 2013. The final sample was 4647 Czech adults [M age 41.4 ± 10 years; M body mass index (BMI) 25.1 ± 3.7 kg/m2]. The results showed that men took more steps/day (M (Mean) = 10,014; 95% CI (Confidence Interval) = 9864–10,164) than women (M = 9448; 95% CI = 9322–9673) in all age and BMI groups. Mean steps/day declined from 2008 to 2013 by 852 steps/day in men and 1491 steps/day in women. In the whole sample, the proportion of participants who had a sedentary lifestyle (12,500 steps/day). In conclusion, this study suggests that there has been a substantial reduction in physical activity in Czech adults over time.
