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COVID-19 Lockdowns Linked to Meaningful Decline in Children’s Motor Skills
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A complete new study reveals that pandemic restrictions dramatically hindered teh progress of motor competence in children and adolescents, potentially impacting their long-term health and well-being. The research underscores the critical need to proactively safeguard children’s physical development during and after global health crises.
The analysis, published in the Journal of Sport Sciences, assessed data from over 278,000 young people aged three to 19 across Europe, Asia, and South America. Researchers at the university of Strathclyde found a consistent decline in fundamental movement skills – including balancing, jumping, hopping, running, and skipping – following lockdowns, school closures, and reduced access to physical activity.
Widespread Reduction in Movement Abilities
Ten out of eleven studies examined reported a reduction in motor competence following the pandemic. One study even documented a 50% increase in the prevalence of motor problems among children. The findings also point to a decline in the ability to manipulate objects,such as throwing and catching. These reductions were notably pronounced in children aged three to 12 and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Motor competence is defined as an individual’s proficiency in a broad range of motor skills, encompassing movement quality, coordination, and control. It’s a crucial element of healthy development, directly linked to physical fitness, body fatness, and engagement in physical activity and sport.
Accelerating a Pre-Existing Trend
While researchers noted a pre-existing, gradual decline in motor competence prior to 2020, the study indicates that COVID-19 restrictions significantly accelerated this trend.”The study was complex, drawing on multiple sources, but we found a substantial decline in children’s movement skills,” stated a lead investigator, Professor of Physical Activity & Public Health Science at Strathclyde. “This reduction is meaningful enough to negatively affect body fatness, physical fitness, and participation in sport and physical activity.”
the observed changes were far greater than the typical year-on-year decline seen before the pandemic. These restrictions coincided with increased screen time, rising rates of body fatness, and decreased physical activity and fitness levels – all likely contributing factors to the decline in motor competence.
The Netherlands: an Exception to the rule
Notably, the Netherlands, which implemented comparatively limited pandemic restrictions, was the onyl country examined that did not report a change in movement skill levels post-COVID. This finding further strengthens the link between restrictions and diminished motor competence.
A senior researcher emphasized the importance of long-term follow-up data to determine whether and to what extent these skills can be recovered. “In populations which experienced declines, it would be desirable to have longer-term follow-up data to test whether and to what extent MC recovered to pre-pandemic levels over time.”
Preparing for Future Pandemics
The findings arrive as both the World Health Organisation and the UK COVID-19 Inquiry have concluded that future pandemics are almost unavoidable. A researcher added, “Preparations should include promoting better motor competence in our children and young people, protecting their motor competence during any future pandemic, and helping them recover after future pandemics.”
