The purpose of this research was to analyze physical and motor development of triplets during primary school. We hypothesized that the physical and motor development of triplets would be below the level of their peers, but that the differences would have decreased by the end of primary school.
45 triplets (15 groups of triplets) participated in the research. With their permission, the data on physical and motor development was obtained from the SLOfit school databases. The results of 11 measurement tasks were analyzed. Eight assessed children’s motor abilities and three assessed their physical characteristics. Using this type of longitudinal data, enabled the comparison of individuals over the same period of childhood and adolescence and compare them to population data.
The study showed that, on average, the triplets’ scores were not significantly below the national average. However, some statistically significant differences did occur. At the start of primary school, triplets were ranking below the national average in physical development (they were shorter, lighter and had less subcutaneous fat) and in two of the eight motor tests (600m run and stand and reach). At the end of primary school, they remained below the national average in physical development, however, the differences had decreased significantly. At the end of primary school, the triplets performed below the national average in three motor tests (600m run, 60m dash and backwards obstacle course). They performed above the national average in three motor tests (20-s hand tapping, 60-s sit-ups and bent arm hang). In two tasks (standing long jump and stand and reach), their results were not significantly different from the national average.
|
