[SYSTEMATIC REVIEW] EXERGAMES AS A TOOL FOR THE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MOTOR SKILLS AND ABILITIES – Full Text

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To analyze the literature on the effectiveness of exergames in physical education classes and in the acquisition and development of motor skills and abilities.

Data source:

The analyses were carried out by two independent evaluators, limited to English and Portuguese, in four databases: Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus and PubMed, without restrictions related with year. The keywords used were: “Exergames and motor learning and motor skill” and “Exergames and motor skill and physical education”. The inclusion criteria were: articles that evaluated the effectiveness of exergames in physical education classes regarding the acquisition and development of motor skills. The following were excluded: books, theses and dissertations; repetitions; articles published in proceedings and conference summaries; and studies with sick children and/or use of the tool for rehabilitation purposes.

Data synthesis:

96 publications were found, and 8 studies were selected for a final review. The quality of the articles was evaluated using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) scale and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Evidence was found on the recurring positive effects of exergames in both motor skills acquisition and motor skills development.

Conclusions:

Exergames, when used in a conscious manner – so as to not completely replace sports and other recreational activities -, incorporate good strategies for parents and physical education teachers in motivating children and adolescents to practice physical exercise.

INTRODUCTION

As an indispensable factor for success in sports activities, games and other physical activities, basic motor skills in childhood are determinant for a healthy and active lifestyle. 1 On the other hand, physical inactivity in childhood may result in the inability to acquire and develop motor skills and abilities, which leads to posterior deficit in learning and in the perfection of specialized motor abilities. 2Some variables make it difficult to practice physical activity in school environments, such as: limited time, large number of students per class and lack of adequate spaces. Besides, throughout the years there has been a change in the behavior of children, leading to the removal of games that involve the movement of several body segments, and to the approximation with technology and entertainment using a screen. Facing this phenomenon, new strategies are required to keep the children motivated for the practice of physical activity. 3

Aiming at allying technology and physical activity, the active games came up – or exergames, name given to the technologies that require the whole body to move, combining physical exercises and videogames. 4 These tools convert the real movements to the virtual environment, allowing the users to be more active 5 , practicing virtual sports, fitness exercises and/or other ludic and interactive physical activities, using movements that are similar to real life tasks. 6 The exergames are different from sedentary videogames 7 due to the physical effort and motor skills and abilities required during the games. 5

The insertion of exergames in the daily life may help children and adolescents to reach the recommended levels of physical activity, and, probably, have a positive impactive on the lives of children, since this is a useful way to acquire and develop motor skills and abilities. 4 ^, 8 ^, 9 ^, 10 Even if exergames are a reality in the lives of children and adolescents – and some researchers have been studying their applicability for the motor performance -, identifying evidence in the scientific literature that indicates the successful or little efficient initiatives in relation to their use for the acquisition and development of motor skills and abilities is essential to formulate new proposals for its broad application in the school context.

In this context, the objective of this study was to analyze the literature as to the efficacy of the use of exergames in Physical Education classes and in the acquisition and development of motor skills and abilities.[…]

 

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