12-Week Rhythmic Gymnastics Training on Fundamental Movement Skills in School-Age Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of rhythmic gymnastics on the development of fundamental movement skills in children with delayed motor skills. This study took place at a primary school from April to June 2022 and involved 88 children aged 6 to 7 years. These children were randomly assigned to an intervention group (N = 44) and a control group (N = 44). The intervention group participated in two 45-minute rhythmic gymnastics classes each week for 12 weeks, while the control group engaged in regular physical activities at the same frequency and duration. All students were evaluated before and after the intervention using the “Test of Fundamental Movement Skills Competence Development for 3 to 10-year-old Children in China.” The results were analyzed statistically using SPSS 26.0. Following the intervention, the rhythmic gymnastics group demonstrated significantly improved performance in locomotor, stability, manipulative, and overall skills (all p < .001). They also performed better on tasks such as standing long jump, skipping, rock & roll, stationary dribbling, and one-hand strike (all partial η2 > 0.14). Findings suggest that incorporating rhythmic gymnastics into elementary school physical education could effectively improve fundamental movement skills in school-age children.