The characteristics for grading ability of gripping, jumping, and throwing in later childhood

Abstract

This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics for motor control ability of gripping, jumping, and throwing in late childhood. First, 10‒year‒old boys and girls were instructed to perform three movements, i.e., gripping, standing long jumping, and throwing with maximal effort (maximum task), and subsequently, with 50％ subjective effort (half task). Participants' force (gripping) and actual distances (jumping and throwing) were recorded and analyzed. The relative values of the half task were calculated based on the maximum task, and the constant and absolute errors from the target value (50％) were evaluated. We compared the movements (gripping, jumping, and throwing) and sex of the children (boys and girls).

The relative values of the half task undershot the target level in all movements regardless of sex. Absolute errors values were high for jumping, throwing, and gripping in boys; on the other hand, these values in girls were higher for jumping than for gripping and throwing. Between boys and girls, constant errors in gripping and throwing were negatively greater in girls than in boys, and absolute errors in throwing were greater in girls than in boys. Moreover, there was no relationship between the values of maximum task and errors of half task in all movements in both boys and girls. In conclusion, the motor control ability showed different characteristics in each movement and was not related to motor ability with maximal effort in 10‒year‒old boys and girls.