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Tailoring Physical Activity for the Health and Development of Children...
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Tailoring Physical Activity for the Health and Development of Children and Adolescents

A special issue of Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (ISSN 2411-5142). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Exercise for Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1426

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Víctor Arufe-Giráldez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Group in Technology Applied to Occupational, Equality and Health Research, Faculty of Education, University of A Coruña, 15008 A Coruña, Spain
Interests: physical activity; psychomotricity; education; physical education; cognitive functions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore the role of physical activity in the health and comprehensive development of children and adolescents, addressing both its benefits and the challenges in its implementation. Original articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that examine the impact of physical activity on physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development at early ages are invited.

Priority will be given to studies that analyze innovative strategies for promoting physical activity in school, family, and community environments, as well as research on the adaptation of programs to populations with specific needs, such as children with disabilities, chronic diseases, or those at risk of social exclusion.

Articles that analyze the relationship between physical activity and disease prevention, academic performance, psychological well-being, and healthy lifestyle habits in childhood and adolescence are also welcome. This Special Issue seeks to provide an updated, evidence-based view on how to optimize physical activity in order to promote healthy and sustainable development in new generations. I look forward to your submissions.

Prof. Dr. Víctor Arufe-Giráldez
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical activity
  • physical exercise
  • health
  • children
  • adolescents
  • cognitive development

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 547 KiB  
Article
Are There Differences in Motor Coordination Among Spanish Primary School Students?
by Ricardo Fernández-Vázquez, Martín Barcala-Furelos, Javier Cachón-Zagalaz, Víctor Arufe-Giráldez, Marcos Mecías-Calvo and Rubén Navarro-Patón
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(3), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030275 - 17 Jul 2025
Viewed by 243
Abstract
Background: Motor coordination is a fundamental skill in childhood. Factors such as age, sex, and regular sports practice influence its development. However, there is little research that jointly analyzes the impact of these factors on the motor skills and abilities of primary school [...] Read more.
Background: Motor coordination is a fundamental skill in childhood. Factors such as age, sex, and regular sports practice influence its development. However, there is little research that jointly analyzes the impact of these factors on the motor skills and abilities of primary school children. The objective of this study was to analyze what happens to different motor skills and abilities (i.e., locomotor coordination (LC); visuomotor coordination (VC); foot object control coordination (FOCC); hand object control coordination (HOCC); global motor coordination (GMC)) in relation to regular and regulated sports practice (yes vs. no), sex (boys vs. girls), and age (6 to 11 years) in a sample of 663 primary schoolchildren (8.59 ± 1.65 years; 48.26% boys) from Galicia (Spain). Methods: The 3JS test was used to analyze motor coordination. To determine differences between the 3JS variables, a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was performed based on age, sex, and sports practice, including a BMI category (normal weight, overweight, or obese) as a covariate to avoid potential confounding factors. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed based on age [LC (p < 0.001); VC (p < 0.001); FOCC (p < 0.001); HOCC (p < 0.001); CMG (p < 0.001)], sex [i.e., VC (p < 0.001); FOCC (p < 0.001); HOCC (p < 0.001); CMG (p < 0.001)], and sports practice [i.e., LC (p < 0.001); VC (p = 0.008); HOCC (p < 0.001); CMG (p < 0.001)], after the application of the 3JS battery. Conclusions: Locomotor coordination in Primary Education is modulated by the interaction between age, sex, and sports practice. All of these variables increase with age, with higher scores in boys than in girls, and higher scores in children who participate in sports than in those who do not. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tailoring Physical Activity for the Health and Development of Children and Adolescents)
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18 pages, 747 KiB  
Article
A Multimodal Physical Program Combining Abacus Use and Exercise to Improve Motor Coordination and Flexibility in Primary School Children
by María del Carmen Carcelén-Fraile, Agustín Aibar-Almazán, Alba Rusillo-Magdaleno and Alberto Ruiz-Ariza
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(3), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030255 - 5 Jul 2025
Viewed by 276
Abstract
Background: During early childhood, physical development plays a critical role in overall growth, influencing not only health but also academic and social outcomes. In this context, the present randomized controlled trial aims to analyze the effects of a combined intervention using physical [...] Read more.
Background: During early childhood, physical development plays a critical role in overall growth, influencing not only health but also academic and social outcomes. In this context, the present randomized controlled trial aims to analyze the effects of a combined intervention using physical exercise and abacus training on flexibility and motor coordination in early primary school children. Methods: A total of 82 girls and boys participated in this study, of which 41 belonged to the experimental group that carried out a combined training of physical exercise and the use of an abacus for 12 weeks and 41 to a control group that did not receive any intervention. Flexibility was measured with the Sit and Reach test and motor coordination with the motor coordination test. Results: In this study, statistically significant improvements were observed in flexibility in both the right and left legs and in all domains related to motor coordination in the training group. Conclusions: The results of this study support the effectiveness of a multidimensional approach that integrates physical and cognitive activities, such as the use of the abacus, to improve coordination and flexibility in children, contributing to comprehensive development in early childhood education. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tailoring Physical Activity for the Health and Development of Children and Adolescents)
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13 pages, 703 KiB  
Article
Self-Perceived Fitness in Young Athletes: Associations with Anthropometric Markers and Lipid Profile as Cardiometabolic Risk Factors—COR-SCHOOL Study
by Alvaro Pano-Rodriguez, Saül Aixa-Requena, Abraham Batalla-Gavaldà, Jose Vicente Beltran-Garrido, Isaac López-Laval, Vicenç Hernández-González, Carme Jové-Deltell, Enric Conesa-Milian and Joaquin Reverter-Masia
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020175 - 14 May 2025
Viewed by 506
Abstract
Objective: This study analyzed the relationship between self-perceived physical fitness and anthropometric and biochemical variables in young athletes from extracurricular sports programs in northeastern Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 673 young athletes. Data collection included [...] Read more.
Objective: This study analyzed the relationship between self-perceived physical fitness and anthropometric and biochemical variables in young athletes from extracurricular sports programs in northeastern Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 673 young athletes. Data collection included self-reported physical fitness and objective anthropometric and biochemical measurements. The analysis explored associations between perceived fitness dimensions and physical/biochemical variables, with attention to sex differences. Results: Fat mass showed significant inverse associations with all perceived fitness dimensions: general fitness (OR = 0.62, 95% CI [0.41, 0.94]), cardiorespiratory fitness (OR = 0.56, 95% CI [0.37, 0.83]), muscular strength (OR = 0.61, 95% CI [0.41, 0.91]), speed/agility (OR = 0.59, 95% CI [0.39, 0.88]), and flexibility (OR = 0.57, 95% CI [0.39, 0.84]). Higher fat mass was consistently linked to lower perceived fitness. HDL levels were positively associated with general (OR = 1.40, 95% CI [1.13, 1.74]) and cardiorespiratory fitness (OR = 1.32, 95% CI [1.07, 1.62]), while LDL levels showed no significant effect (p > 0.05). Sex differences emerged for general fitness (OR = 0.52, 95% CI [0.33, 0.82]) and flexibility (OR = 0.51, 95% CI [0.33, 0.78]), favoring boys, but no differences were found for cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, or speed/agility (p > 0.05). This suggests that shared athletic environments may reduce typical sex-based disparities. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the importance of considering both anthropometric and biochemical variables when evaluating perceived fitness in youth athletes. Regular athletic engagement may buffer sex-based differences in fitness perception. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tailoring Physical Activity for the Health and Development of Children and Adolescents)
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