Validity of bodily-rhythmic coordination field test for obese people

Abstract

Coordination is one of the most important skills in humans' relationship with the environment, alongside others such as endurance, strength, flexibility, and memory. However, despite there are many tools to measure these latter functional capabilities, the assessment of rhythmic coordination tests require sophisticated and expensive materials, or are specific to certain forms of dance. The purpose of this study is to show a new test for measuring rhythmic coordination in any person, in order to prove its validity and usefulness in the field of physical activity and health. Methods: Twenty women obese participants aged 50.63 ± 11.48 with body mass index (BMI) 38.61 ± 5.19 participated in this study. The test procedures were developed in a square circuit. The test was video recorded with a fixed camera for post-hoc observation purposes. A binary subdivision music track was chose (due to the simplicity beat) and the basic motor skill march was performed in which arms-legs-time musical coordination is important. Results: The results showed a moderate to good reliability and validity for the rhythmic-bodily coordination. These results show that observers had good accuracy in observing and evaluating the rhythmic-bodily coordination. Conclusion: The results obtained show that this test is presented as an objective, valid and reliable tool to assess the rhythmic-bodily coordination for people with obesity.