Fundamental Movement Skills in Children and Adolescents: Review of Associated Health Benefits
Abstract
The mastery of fundamental movement skills (FMS) has been purported as contributing to children's physical, cognitive and social development and is thought to provide the foundation for an active lifestyle. Commonly developed in childhood and subsequently refined into context- and sport-specific skills, they include locomotor (e.g. running and hopping), manipulative or object control (e.g. catching and throwing) and stability (e.g. balancing and twisting) skills. The rationale for promoting the development of FMS in childhood relies on the existence of evidence on the current or future benefits associated with the acquisition of FMS proficiency. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the relationship between FMS competency and potential health benefits in children and adolescents. Benefits were defined in terms of psychological, physiological and behavioural outcomes that can impact public health. A systematic search of six electronic databases (EMBASE, OVID MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus and SportDiscus®) was conducted on 22 June 2009. Included studies were cross-sectional, longitudinal or experimental studies involving healthy children or adolescents (aged 3-18 years) that quantitatively analysed the relationship between FMS competency and potential benefits. The search identified 21 articles examining the relationship between FMS competency and eight potential benefits (i.e. global self-concept, perceived physical competence, cardio-respiratory fitness [CRF], muscular fitness, weight status, flexibility, physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviour). We found strong evidence for a positive association between FMS competency and physical activity in children and adolescents. There was also a positive relationship between FMS competency and CRF and an inverse association between FMS competency and weight status. Due to an inadequate number of studies, the relationship between FMS competency and the remaining benefits was classified as uncertain. More longitudinal and intervention research examining the relationship between FMS competency and potential psychological, physiological and behavioural outcomes in children and adolescents is recommended.
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The development of motor proficiency and the skills needed to be active for life are a result of acquiring and applying fundamental movement skills.
“The development of motor proficiency (MP) and the skills needed to be active for life are a result of acquiring and applying fundamental movement skills (FMS; Cliff et al., 2009;Higgs et al., 2008;Lubans et al., 2010;Robinson, 2011).”
From Developing an Intentionally Designed Physical Activity Model of Programming for Children’s Structured Recreation in Canada (2022) · cites this paper as Lubans et al., 2010
Fundamental movement skills are considered the building blocks for lifelong participation in physical activity.
“FMS are considered the building blocks for lifelong participation in PA (Cliff et al., 2009;Higgs et al., 2008;Lubans et al., 2010;Robinson, 2011).”
From Developing an Intentionally Designed Physical Activity Model of Programming for Children’s Structured Recreation in Canada (2022) · cites this paper as Lubans et al., 2010
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- Authors
- Lubans, D. R., Morgan, P. J., Cliff, D. P., Barnett, L. M., & Okely, A. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Newcastle Australia (AU)
- University of Wollongong (AU)
- Deakin University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Lubans, David R.
- Venue
- Sports Medicine
- Published
- 2010-12
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1019-1035
- ISSN
- 0112-1642 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2079156084
- Cited by
- 1,548
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 78 · 2025: 132 · 2024: 124 · 2023: 127 · 2022: 131 · 2021: 175 · 2020: 149 · 2019: 115 · 2018: 112 · 2017: 94 · 2016: 73 · 2015: 85 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 33
- FWCI
- 5.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Online (University of Wollongong) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Children's Physical and Motor Development
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Education
- Keywords
- basic motor skills, children, adolescents, physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, weight status, flexibility, self-concept, perceived physical competence, sedentary behavior, locomotor skills, manipulative skills, stability skills
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Child, Child Behavior, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Motor Skills, Physical Fitness
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