Page 1 of 16
European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 10, No. 6
Publication Date: December 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/aivp.106.13317. Kozaki, R., Abe, K., Mimura, K., Koyama, K., & Kaga, M. (2022). Variations in 24-Hour Heart Rate, Physical Activity, Sleep, Autonomic
Nervous Activity, and Motor Performance Measured Using a Multifunctional Wireless Holter Recorde in Early Childhood. European
Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(6). 161-176.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Variations in 24-Hour Heart Rate, Physical Activity, Sleep,
Autonomic Nervous Activity, and Motor Performance Measured
Using a Multifunctional Wireless Holter Recorde in Early
Childhood
Ryosuke KOZAKI
The joint graduate school in science of school education
Hyogo University of Teacher Education, Doctor's Program 942-1
Shimokume, Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture, 665-0061, Japan
Keiko ABE
Faculty of Education, Osaka Seikei University
3-10-62 Aikawa, Higasiyodogawa-ku, Osaka City, 533-0007, Japan
Kan-ichi MIMURA
Faculty of Education, Osaka Seikei University
3-10-62 Aikawa, Higasiyodogawa-ku, Osaka City, 533-0007, Japan
Kenzo KOYAMA
Faculty of School Health Nursing Education, Osaka Kyoiku University
4-698-1 Asahigaoka, Kashiwara City, Osaka,582-8582, Japan
Masaru KAGA
Faculty of Education, Okayama University
3-1-1, Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
ABSTRACT
The study aimed to implement motor performance measurements to clarify the
physiological characteristics of aging, as well as the relationship between aging and
motor performance. This study, we used a multifunctional wireless holter recorder
to continuously measure the 24-hour heart rate, physical activity, sleep, and
autonomic nervous system activity of early childhood aged 3–6 years. Results
showed that average heart rate, average awake heart rate, average heart rate
during sleep, and number of turns during sleep decreased with age. Basal
metabolism and total energy expenditure varied significantly by age and sex. Motor
performance increased significantly with age, and correlations were found between
physical characteristics, physical activity, and mean heart rate during sleep.
However, autonomic nervous system activity did not differ significantly with age
and sex. Our results show the need for specific programs for each age group.
Keywords: Infants; 24-hour heart rate; Sleep; Autonomic nervous system; motor
performance
Page 2 of 16
162
European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 10, Issue 6, December-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
INTRODUCTION
According to the "Research survey on the practical implementation of early childhood
programs for cultivating the foundations to improve physical fitness" (Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology [MEXT], 2007–2010) [20], which conducted
nationwide physical fitness measurements and lifestyle surveys targeting kindergartens and
nursery schools, more than 40% of infants mainly play indoors. Infants who played outside
more often had a higher overall physical fitness rating, suggesting that playing outside for about
one hour a day may help improve physical fitness[21]. The same survey also found that 25% of
infants had low levels of physical activity, with 29% of the infants determined to have low
physical fitness, receiving a grade of D or E on an overall physical fitness assessment[21].
Additionally, between 2006 and 2012, MEXT conducted a survey on the physical fitness of
children aged 3–12 years, which included physical motor performance tests, and examined
exercise, dietary, and sleep habits. The survey revealed that decline in physical fitness had
already begun at the age of 3 years[21].
In March 2012, MEXT’s Committee for Formulation of Physical Activity Guidelines for Young
Children created the "Physical Activity Guidelines for Young Children"[20]for 3–5-year-old
children, and distributed them to kindergartens, nursery schools, and children's schools
nationwide. As a form of public outreach, the guidelines state that “It is desirable for children
to enjoy physical activity for a total of 60 minutes or more every day.” The Guidelines for
Physical Activity in Early Childhood" were developed and distributed to kindergartens, nursery
schools, and kindergartens throughout Japan. The "Guidebook to the Physical Activity
Guidelines for Young Children" presented six events (25-meter run, standing long jump, hard
tennis ball throw, double-leg continuous jump, body support duration, and ball catch) as
measurement and evaluation methods and recommended that they be used as indicators of
physical fitness for pre-schoolers[20].
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) published "Guidelines on physical activity,
sedentary behaviour, and sleep for children under 5 years of age." The recommendations in
these guidelines indicate that health data should be examined with reference to overall
behaviour across 24 hours of the day[34].
Although studies of young children’s activity levels in preschool, at home, and during sleep have
used telemetry, heart rate monitors, as well as motor ability tests and treadmill exercise stress
tests to measure maximal heart rate and maximal oxygen uptake in young children, few studies
in the literature cover 24-hour-long periods[3,17,18,31-33].
The recently developed multifunctional wireless holter recorder (hereinafter referred to as a
CarPod), is a lightweight (transmitter, 18 g; receiver, 43 g) multifunctional analysis device
developed to reduce physical and mental burden on those wearing it. With its built-in 3-axis
acceleration sensor, this device can measure heart rate, body temperature, number of steps,
amount of physical activity, posture (sitting, standing, and lying), exercise intensity, number of
turns during sleep, and autonomic nervous system information over 24 hours. Previous reports
on the body with young children have collected and analyzed heart rate, sleep, physical activity,
and autonomic nervous system separately. There are few directions in which these data were
Page 3 of 16
163
Kozaki, R., Abe, K., Mimura, K., Koyama, K., & Kaga, M. (2022). Variations in 24-Hour Heart Rate, Physical Activity, Sleep, Autonomic Nervous Activity,
and Motor Performance Measured Using a Multifunctional Wireless Holter Recorde in Early Childhood. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(6).
161-176.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.106.13317
collected continuously and simultaneously over a 24-hour period. Among them, data during
sleep is scarce, and there is novelty in collecting valuable data such as turns during sleep.
In this study, we used a CarPod to continuously measure the 24-hour heart rate, physical
activity, sleep, and autonomic nervous system activity of kindergarten children aged 3–6 years.
The study aimed to implement motor performance measurements to clarify the physiological
characteristics of aging, as well as the relationship between aging and motor performance.
METHODS
Subjects
Out of 199 children at Y kindergarten in Hyogo Prefecture, we were able to accurately measure
the parameters of 182 children for a 24-hour period (90 boys: 9 aged 3 years, 24 aged 4, 29
aged 5, and 28 aged 6; 92 girls: 8 aged 3 years, 38 aged 4, 23 aged 5, and 23 aged 6).
Measurement items
Morphometric measurements
Height and weight were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated from the
obtained values as a morphometric index.
Measurements using CarPod
Measurements were conducted using a CarPod (Medilink Corporation, Toyoda City Aichi
Japan), which can continuously measure the heart rate for 24 hours using an electro-cardiac
transmitter attached to the chest and a separate main unit (receiver) worn around the neck
(Figure 1).
Figure 1. CarPod installation example
The subjects were fitted with a CarPod by female teachers in the kindergarten principal's office
immediately after arriving at kindergarten. After going about their day, they continued wearing
the device after being sent home at 2 pm. The devices were removed by teachers the following
day, 24 hours after they were initially outfitted with the devices. Teachers instructed the
children to refrain from bathing on the day of the measurement.