Motor Performance Improvement in a Technological Age: A Literature Review

The access to new technologies is growing worldwide. Nowadays, children under two years old already have some type of digital device, which can decrease hinder your time in gross motor experience, then limiting development of basic motor skills and gross motor coordination during childhood. Since the sedentary lifestyle in children has been increasing more and more, it is important to introduce technological resources associated with traditional physical activity programs. The use of active games or the so-called exergames together with traditional physical exercises can contribute to the development of motor skills and coordination in children. Motor development is the continuous change in motor behavior throughout the life cycle caused by the interaction between the demands of the motor task, the biology of the individual and the conditions of the environment. The environment can be then seen as a great ally of motor development and can help determine the future conditions of a child. We revised the studies about the exergames effects on motor development in childhood. From the analysis of several scientific studies, it was possible to conclude that virtual games combined with physical education classes contribute to the improvement of motor skills and gross motor coordination in children.