Research on Educational Sport

Physical Literacy as a Pathway to Lifelong Health in Children: An Investigation of the Effect of 12 Weeks of Fundamental Movement Training Combined with Breathing Exercises on Physical Literacy and Spirometry Indices in 8 and 9 Year Old Female

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

motahare borsalani 1
shadmehr Mirdar Harijani 2
saleh rafiee 3
Raymond Kim-Wai SUM 4

1 Mazandaran University. Babolsar city. Iran

2 Dep. of Exercise physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

3 Associate Professor of Sport Science Research Institute of Iran

4 Department of Sports Science and Physical Education,, Chinese University of Hong Kong

https://doi.org/10.22089/res.2026.19303.2754
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of basic movement exercises, breathing exercises, and their combination on physical literacy and spirometry indices in 8–9-year-old girls. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study with a pretest–posttest design and a control group, 52 children were randomly divided into four groups (basic movement, breathing, combined, and control). Instruments included a physical literacy questionnaire, a spirometer, the Tanner self-assessment maturity questionnaire, and a motor development test. The training groups participated in a 12-week program of targeted movement games and structured breathing exercises. Data were analyzed using t‑tests at a significance level of 0.05. Results: No changes were observed in the control group. Basic movement exercises significantly improved physical literacy and forced vital capacity (FVC), but other pulmonary indices did not change significantly. Breathing exercises significantly improved vital capacity (VC), FVC, and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), but had no significant effect on physical literacy. In the combined group, physical literacy, maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), and FVC improved significantly, whereas VC and FEV₁ showed no significant changes. Conclusion: Breathing exercises had the greatest effect on pulmonary function, while basic movement exercises had the greatest effect on physical literacy. Combined exercises partially provided the benefits of both simultaneously. These findings highlight the importance of designing integrated school‑based interventions to simultaneously promote children's motor and respiratory health.

Keywords

Fundamental movement training
Breathing exercises
Physical literacy
Spirometry indices
Girls
Subjects
Research on Educational Sport

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 October 2026

  • Receive Date 23 May 2026
  • Revise Date 20 October 2026
  • Accept Date 20 October 2026

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