Effects of Integrative Neuromuscular Exercises on Gross Motor Skills in School Age Girls: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The current study aims to determine the effects of eight-week integrated neuromuscular exercise implemented during physical education class in a primary school in lower elementary children on motor skills. The sample consisted of 52 second-grade students of the elementary school "Prva vojvodjanska brigada" from Novi Sad. Classes were randomly divided into the two groups: the intervention group (n=37) and the control group (n=35). The intervention group performed the integrated neuromuscular training program two times per week within the first ~15 min of physical education class consisting of a dynamic warm-up, basic exercises focused on increasing muscle strength and power, and secondary exercises focused on improving fundamental motor skills. The control group performed traditional physical education classes, also twice a week. To evaluate the effects of the experimental and control program, the following test batteries were used: for the assessment of motor skills Test of Gross Motor Development. Mixed model analysis of variance with repeated measures was used for statist analysis.