The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Inhibition in Children With and Without Motor Impairments

in Journal of Physical Activity and Health

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Jane Jie Yu
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Chia-Liang Tsai
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Chien-Yu Pan
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Ru Li
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Cindy Hui-Ping Sit
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2020-0091
Keywords:
intensity; visuospatial attention; executive function
First Published Online:
22 Sep 2020
In Print:
Volume 17: Issue 11
Page Range:
1118–1124
Restricted access

Background: To examine the relationship between physical activity (PA) and inhibition in boys and girls with motor impairments compared with children with typical development. Methods: The participants were 58 (26 motor impairments and 32 typical development) children aged 7–12 years who met the inclusion criteria. PA was assessed using accelerometers for 7 consecutive days. The time spent in PA of different intensity levels (light, moderate, and vigorous) were analyzed for weekdays and weekends. Using a visuospatial attention paradigm, inhibition was evaluated by the difference in reaction time between invalid and valid cue conditions. Generalized linear mixed models were used to determine the associations of inhibition with PA and motor ability by sex. Results: Boys and children with typical development had shorter reaction times in inhibition than girls (P < .001) and children with motor impairments (P < .05), respectively. Motor ability (b = 189.98) and vigorous PA on weekdays (b = −43.18) were significant predictors of inhibition in girls only. Conclusions: The results indicate a positive relationship between vigorous PA (on weekdays) and inhibition in children (girls), moderated by sex and motor ability. Effective interventions that promote vigorous PA for children both in and out of school should be designed to foster their executive function development.

Yu is with the Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, and the Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. Tsai is with the Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Pan is with the Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Li is with the Physical Education Unit, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China. Sit is with the Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.

Sit (sithp@cuhk.edu.hk) is corresponding author.
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