Strength Performance in School Going Children Using Bruininks- Oseretsky Test-2

Introduction

Muscle strength is defined as a maximum amount of force a muscle can produce with a single maximal effort. It is measured during muscular contraction. Strength training includes both the size of muscle fibers and also improves the ability of nerves to communicate with the muscles. It is believed that muscle strength gradually increases from early infancy.1 Strength is a component which comes under gross motor development. Gross motor development is a gradual process by which a child gains and uses coordination of the muscles of the legs, arm & trunks & the smaller muscles of hand [1]. Ganapathy Sankar, et al. [2] found in his study done on children of 5-10 years of age that prevalence rate was 3.22%. This rate of prevalence was diverse according to gender and geographical areas. A study done by Komal, et al. [3] where they found 21.33 % prevalence rate and in males it was 19.31 % and in females it was 23.23%. Two types of strength can be evaluated, dynamic strength and static strength. Dynamic strength is measured with the subtest of BOTMP. The subtest consists of 3 tasks which includes standing, Long jump, Pushups for 30 sec, sit ups for 30 sec. It helps in assessing arm strength, Leg strength, shoulder strength and abdominal strength [1]. Other scales used to measure strength is the Peabody Developmental Motor scales-2nd (PDMS-2), Movement assessment battery for children (Movement ABC-2), Masstrichtsce Motoriek Test (MMT) [4, 5, 6, 7]. In the above scales strength component is not accurately specified there are locomotor components involving Jumping, Hopping, crawling, grasping which do not define strength as a whole. Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor proficiency, Second edition (BOT-2) BOT-2 can be used to assess strength because in other scales strength as a whole component is not being specified whereas BOT-2 scale gives an objective, Descriptive & analytical assessment [5]. BOT-2 is a test which includes engaging, goal-directed activities to measure the motor skills in children ages four through 21. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of motor proficiency-BOTMP (Bruininks 1978) contains 46 items grouped under eight different subtests of motor proficiency mainly for children between 4.5 and 14.5 years of age [5].

Strength component of BOTMP is the eight sub test under gross motor composite. Activities in this subtest include push up test, standing long jump, V-up test, wall sits, sit up test. Performance of the standing long jump is measured in distance and rest of the subtests is measured in seconds. According to Descriptive Category of BOT -2 test in prevalence of Developmental disorders in overweight and obese children aged 7-12 years showed motor deficit in Body coordination 33% and in Strength and agility 74% [8].

Therefore, the purpose of this study was (a) To find total point score in school children (b) To find descriptive category according to gender (c) To find descriptive category according to age groups.

Materials and Methods

This cross sectional analytical study was conducted on children from Pimpri-Chinchwad area of age group 5-15 years. The subjects were divided according to gender and age groups. Age group one included 5.0 to 7.11, age group two includes 8.0 to 9.11, age group three includes 10.0 to 11.11, age group four includes 12.0 to 13.11 and age group five includes 14.0-15.11. All the samples were taken in as they were school going children.

Result

Total 516 children were selected of age 5-15 years, Out of which 248 were males and 268 were females. Table 1 shows the mean of strength motor point score of females was 25.8 + 5.21 and males was 27+ 4.8.The statistical results for score wise comparison of gender indicated a significant difference between males & females (p<0.001). This indicates that male performance was higher than females in strength component.

The data summary of strength total point score according to gender is shown below:

Using Mann whitney test p<0.001 Table1: Mean of Strength Motor Point Score according to Gender.

Table 2 shows that the percentage of the descriptive category according to gender. It is shown that participants in average category were more as compare to other groups amongst males and females (p=0.03) which indicates that both males and females come under more in average category followed by above average, below average ,well above average & well below average respectively.

Using chi square test, p=0.03 Table 2: Descriptive Category of Strength according to Gender.

Table 3 shows that in all the age groups, majority fall in Average category, followed by Above Average except age group 1 which shows more in Above Average category.

(51.35%).However this difference was not statistically significant as p=0.88.

Using chi square test, p=0.88 Table 3: Descriptive Category according to Age Group.

Discussion

The Primary aim of this study was to ass’s strength using Bruininks Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2nd Edition among children. Motor development is a gradual process in which the child learns to use coordination of the large muscles of the legs and trunks and small muscles of hands.

The Sub-test was designed to assess the upper, lower body and trunk strength. Samples score was consistent with the individuals who all completed these tests. The total no. of subjects was 516 of age groups 5-15 (mean age -10.67 and SD + 3.03).

According to the descriptive category, mean of strength point score in our study was more in males than females; more males fall in average and above average category, while more no. of females came in well below average and well above average category. Our result were consistent with the study done by Freedson PS showed that boys tend to participate more in physical activities such as sports, gymnastics, swimming etc [9]. Participating in such activities improves strength, so these differences were observed. It is seen that the difference was at its peak during adolescent period. The reason of these differences can also be hormones as male hormones are testosterone, which aids in stimulating muscle mass, whereas female primary hormone is estrogen which aids fat accumulation. Testosterone also increases the concentration of Red blood cells and haemoglobin. Antara, et al. [10] also suggested that male performance was better in terms of running speed and agility than females in the age of 5-15 years using BOT 2. We have not considered nutritional stauts of these children. but it was observed that nutritional status and socioeconomic status of children is the significant predictor for their fine and gross motor development [4, 11].

This study showed that majority of the children falls under the category of average category followed by above average category, except in age group 1 which shows more in above average category. So it interprets that more children had good strength score in this study. Results of this study go in accordance with a study done by T Balakrishna, et al. [12], which stated significant difference in their performance when compared by age with USA children. In this study, Indian children performed well in the strength subtest across all age groups, except age group 4 which underperformed as compared to the USA normative sample.

A study done by Brenda Wilson, et al. [13] stated that these standard scores are age adjusted, progress will not be reflected in the test scores unless or until the progress is rapid than typical maturation (which is not likely to occur with children who have motor problems). Therapist should consider using the subtest point scores as a more accurate measure of change.

The factors included in the study differs age wise as well as gender wise because of the factors have shown good results in male children. Factors included in our study were good in children and children are also involved in a number of physical activities like sports, gymnastics etc therefore more number of children has got good strength score. It was further showed that as age group increases, strength score increases both in male and females. Further research can be performed considering socio economic status of the children

Conclusion

The study concludes that male children showed better performance than female children, maximum children fall in average category and as age increases, strength score also increases.