Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the ability to adjust grip strength by comparing the characteristics of force generation and relaxation from childhood to adulthood. Method: This study included 225 participants aged 6, 11, 17, and 19-23 years (adults) who performed isometric hand-grip force as follows: maximum, half…

This study reports on crawling variability and differences in variability between infants with typical development (TD) and those with developmental delays. This longitudinal study included 0-year-old infants with no apparent dysfunction. The crawling movement in the video was coded objectively with reference to previous research. The infants were…

Recently, to evaluate dynamic balance ability, a stipulated tempo step test has been developed, and a step error between tempo and contact time of feet has been used as an evaluation variable. The step error, postural sway, and their relationships may differ between the slow tempo (40 bpm) and fast tempo (120 bpm). This study aimed to examine the…

Children with suspected developmental disabilities often have handwriting difficulties and show problems with motor control of the head and upper limbs, but it has not been examined in detail. The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of motor control in children with suspected developmental disabilities and writing…

We investigated performance levels on conducting continuous two-footed jumping of preschool children (4 years old) to high school students (16 years old) to clarify the developmental progression and sex differences in motor coordination and agility. In total, 450 children (boys: 227; girls: 223) participated in this study. We set 10 obstacles to…

This study aimed to examine the outcomes and feasibility of a hybrid group-based intervention combining physical activity and an individual goal-oriented approach for children with developmental disabilities. We employed a single-arm pre-test/post-test repeated-measures design. Outcome measures were based on participants' achievement of individual…

The purpose of the present study was to clarify comprehensively how and to what extent inhibition, spatial working memory (WM), and auditory WM influence agility, balance, and dexterity of motor coordination and comprehensive physical ability in kindergarteners. Participants were 43 children between the ages of 4 and 5 years old. The children…

This study examines the effectiveness of a simultaneous intervention in kindergarten and home to improve ball skills in children. Two kindergartens in Ibaraki, Japan, were divided into intervention (N = 98, mean age = 5.5 [0.6] years) and control groups (N = 88, mean age = 5.6 [0.6] years). The intervention was for 4 weeks. Parents received emails…

This longitudinal study aimed to investigate infants' spontaneous object interactions during naturalistic longitudinal observations in a day care centre in Japan. Infants' and caregivers' interactions during free play time were videotaped. The main focus related to how infants' object interactions changed during locomotor development. Observations…

The current study investigated infants' spontaneous object interactions during naturalistic observation in a daycare centre in Japan. The researcher visited the class for 49 days, once a week, for one year (in the morning for about 1.5 h). Infants' and caregivers' interactions during free play time were videotaped. Of particular interest in this…

The purpose of this study was to describe and explain Japanese elementary teacher development experiences in teaching physical education (PE). Participants were eight elementary classroom teachers (six males and two females) (within their first five years of teaching) teaching PE for the first time in Japanese elementary schools. Data sources…

Objectives: Motor deficits related to imitation have been observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients. This pilot investigation focused on motor performances, including daily tool-use actions, performing an action in the absence of the tool, and imitating (copying tool-use action presented visually), in eight children with ASD and eight…

This study seeks to clarify the structure and characteristics of learners' successful experiences in elementary school physical education classes in Japan according to grade and sex. A questionnaire survey was administered to 1450 public elementary school students across Japan. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that successful experiences…

This study examined the characteristics, such as muscle power and agility, of top-level junior soft tennis players. 36 Japanese top-level junior (under-14) boys soft tennis players (age 13.4 ± 0.8 years, height 165.0 ± 9.7cm, and weight 53.9 ± 11.1 kg) with experience in international meet participation and 25 junior boys soft tennis players (age…

In both England and Japan, art education was viewed as having nothing to do with self-expression, but was considered to be an efficient means for industrial development. In England, it was designed to train the eyes and hands of artisans. The art critic Ruskin has often been referred to in the context of the transition to self-expression in the…