Cluster structure of the psychomotor and coordination spheres in younger schoolchildren

The goal of this study was to describe typical motor profiles in younger schoolchildren. A total of 89 subjects aged 8–10 years, students of primary schools of Moscow not going in for sports took part in the study. Twenty-five indices of psychophysiological (NS-PsihoTest), psychomotor (KID-3), posturography and locomotor tests (nine coordination tests) have been measured. According to their motor coordination, the children have been subdivided into groups using k-means cluster analysis. The four obtained clusters are supposed to reflect different types of motor coordination and correspond to four individual motor profiles typical of children aged 8–10 years. These motor coordination types were not associated with age, sex, or constitution; therefore, they may be promising for selecting sports. The ability to anticipate and a high speed of wrist movement were typical of children from the first cluster. Subjects from the second cluster were more successful in rapid, rhythmic, and automatic actions, based on the mechanism of intrinsic programming. Subjects from the third cluster displayed a moderate ability of postural control, but at the same time, they were characterized by smooth, accurate, and rhythmic arm actions based on visual feedback, and an advanced sense of rhythm and space sense. Subjects from the fourth cluster were the most coordinated ones, which is important for sports and occupational activities requiring a high level of coordination.