Effects of Bear Walking and Crocodile Animal Movement Training on Shoulder and Hip Joint Range of Motion in Children Aged 10–12 Years
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37742/jmpo.v7i1.206Keywords:
Animal movement, Bear walking, Crocodile, Shoulder joint, Hip joint, ChildrenAbstract
This study aimed to examine the effects of animal movement exercises, namely bear walking and crocodile, on shoulder and hip range of motion (ROM) in children aged 10–12 years. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design was used. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and assigned to a bear walking group (n=14), crocodile group (n=13), and control group (n=10). ROM was measured using a goniometer and analyzed with paired sample t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and One-Way ANOVA. The results showed significant improvements in shoulder and hip ROM in both exercise groups (p<0.05). Improvements in shoulder ROM were comparable between groups, while the crocodile group showed greater gains in hip ROM than the bear walking group. These findings indicate that animal movement exercises are effective for improving joint mobility in school-aged children.
References
Abdulazeez, M. U., Alhefeiti, M., Alhammadi, S., Alnuaimi, H., Abdullahi, A. S., Shaikhoun, L., Aminian, K., Stylianides, G. A., & Abdullah, K. A. (2025). Normative Knee Range of Motion for Children. Life, 15(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/life15071000
Alizadeh, S., Daneshjoo, A., Zahiri, A., Anvar, S. H., Goudini, R., Hicks, J. P., Konrad, A., & Behm, D. G. (2023). Resistance Training Induces Improvements in Range of Motion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. In Sports Medicine (Vol. 53, Number 3, pp. 707–722). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01804-x
Baba, K., Chiba, D., Mori, Y., Kuwahara, Y., Kogure, A., Sugaya, T., Kamata, K., Oizumi, I., Suzuki, T., Kurishima, H., Hamada, S., Itoi, E., & Aizawa, T. (2022). Impacts of external rotators and the ischiofemoral ligament on preventing excessive internal hip rotation: a cadaveric study. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-021-02873-w
Biren, G. B. (2015). Youth Resistance Training: An Alternative Means to Physical Activity. In American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Buxton, J. D., Prins, P. J., Miller, M. G., Moreno, A., Welton, G. L., Atwell, A. D., Talampas, T. R., & Elsey, G. E. (2022). The Effects of a Novel Quadrupedal Movement Training Program on Functional Movement, Range of Motion, Muscular Strength, and Endurance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36(8), 2186–2193. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003818
Buxton, J. D., Prins, P. J., Miller, M. G., Moreno, A., Welton, G. L., Atwell, A. D., Talampas, T. R., & Elsey, G. E. (2023). The Effects of a Novel Quadrupedal Movement Training Program on Functional Movement, Range of Motion, Muscular Strength, and Endurance. Original Research. www.nsca.com
Buxton, J., Daugherty, M., Grubbs, R., Isles, M., Mulligan, S., Plank, E., Taylor, E., & Prins, P. (2024). Comparison of muscle activation during quadrupedal movement training and traditional bodyweight exercises. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 40, 2173–2178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.11.002
Chadayammuri, V., Garabekyan, T., Bedi, A., Pascual-Garrido, C., Rhodes, J., O’Hara, J., & Mei-Dan, O. (2016). Passive hip range of motion predicts femoral torsion and acetabular version. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - American Volume, 98(2), 127–134. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.O.00334
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Method Approaches by John W. Creswell (z-lib.org) (V. Knight, J. Young, K. Kosolelek, B. Bauhaus, & M. Markanich, Eds.; 4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
D’Anna, C., Forte, P., & Pugliese, E. (2024). Trends in Physical Activity and Motor Development in Young People—Decline or Improvement? A Review. In Children (Vol. 11, Number 3). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). https://doi.org/10.3390/children11030298
Donati, D., Giorgi, F., Farì, G., Tarallo, L., Catani, F., & Tedeschi, R. (2024). The Influence of Pelvic Tilt and Femoral Torsion on Hip Biomechanics: Implications for Clinical Assessment and Treatment. In Applied Sciences (Switzerland) (Vol. 14, Number 20). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). https://doi.org/10.3390/app14209564
E, Y., Yang, J., Shen, Y., & Quan, X. (2023). Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Academic Burden: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Health among Chinese Adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064917
Eckart, A. C. (2023). Quadrupedal Movement Training A Brief Review and Practical Guide Apply It! www.acsm-healthfitness.org
Engel, A. C., Broderick, C. R., van Doorn, N., Hardy, L. L., & Parmenter, B. J. (2018). Exploring the Relationship Between Fundamental Motor Skill Interventions and Physical Activity Levels in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. In Sports Medicine (Vol. 48, Number 8, pp. 1845–1857). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0923-3
Faigenbaum, A. D., Kraemer, W. J., Blimkie, C. J. R., Jeffreys, I., Micheli, L. J., Nitka, M., & Rowland, T. W. (2009). Youth Resistance Training: Updated Position Statement Paper From The National Strength and Conditioning Association. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23(5), 60–79. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31819df407
Gasbarro, L., Padua, E., Tancredi, V., Annino, G., Montorsi, M., Maugeri, G., & D’Amico, A. G. (2020). Joint mobility protection during the developmental age among free climbing practitioners: A pilot study. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk5010014
Habyarimana, J. de D., Tugirumukiza, E., Sun, H., Pathirana, A., & Zhou, K. (2025). From active play to sedentary lifestyles: understanding the decline in physical activity from childhood through adolescence—a systematic review. In Frontiers in Public Health (Vol. 13). Frontiers Media SA. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1636891
Hindle, B. R., Keogh, J. W. L., & Lorimer, A. V. (2020). Validation of spatiotemporal and kinematic measures in functional exercises using a minimal modeling inertial sensor methodology. Sensors (Switzerland), 20(16), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20164586
Ikeda, N., Hiratsuka, K., & Isaka, T. (2024). Effect of 6-Week Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Joint Flexibility and Musculotendinous Properties. Sports, 12(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12060150
Ituen, O. A., Akwaowo, C. D., Ferguson, G., Duysens, J., & Smits-Engelsman, B. (2025). Impact of generalized joint hypermobility on quality of life and physical activity in school-aged children: a longitudinal study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-08259-3
Kiapour, A. M., Mitchell, C., Hosseinzadeh, S., Emami, A., Lewis, C. L., Warfield, S. K., Bixby, S., Stracciolini, A., Novais, E. N., & Kim, Y. J. (2024). Association Between Hip Translation and Hip Rotation and Anatomy: A Pilot Quasi-static MRI Study. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 12(10). https://doi.org/10.1177/23259671241275662
Kiba, H., Miaki, H., Yokogawa, M., & Asai, H. (2024). Lower-limb asymmetry in healthy male athletes. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 37, 118–5. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.37.118
Lloyd, R. S., & Oliver, J. L. (2012). The Youth Physical Development Model: A New Approach to Long-Term Athletic Development. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 34(3), 61–62. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e31825760ea
Luedeka, D., Strick, K., Roche, N., & Williams, C. (2026). Shoulder Complex Dysfunction Through an Evolutionary Lens: The Need for Closed Kinetic Chain Loading in Upper Extremity Program Design. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 11(2), 131. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020131
Marzena Walasek, Michał Ziemba, Katarzyna Giedzicz, Rafał Kulgawczuk, & Jan Smusz. (2025). Effects of Phyiscal Activity on Children’s Development - A Review. International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science, 2(4(48)). https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.4(48).2025.4321
Matthews, M. J., Yusuf, M., Doyle, C., & Thompson, C. (2016). Quadrupedal movement training improves markers of cognition and joint repositioning. Human Movement Science, 47, 70–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2016.02.002
Morawietz, C., Wissmann, A. M., & Muehlbauer, T. (2024). A 6-week coordinative motor training program improves spatial ability performances in healthy children. Frontiers in Cognition, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcogn.2024.1396399
Moreside, J. M., & Mcgill, S. M. (2012). Hip Joint Range of Motion Improvements Using Three Different Interventions. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(5), 1265–1273. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31824f2351
Myers, C. A., Register, B. C., Lertwanich, P., Ejnisman, L., Pennington, W. W., Giphart, J. E., Laprade, R. F., & Philippon, M. J. (2011). Role of the Acetabular Labrum and the Iliofemoral Ligament in Hip Stability: An in Vitro Biplane Fluoroscopy Study. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 39(1_suppl), 85S-91S. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546511412161
Promsri, A., Haid, T., & Federolf, P. (2018). How does lower limb dominance influence postural control movements during single leg stance? Human Movement Science, 58, 165–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2018.02.003
Promsri, A., Haid, T., Werner, I., & Federolf, P. (2020). Leg Dominance Effects on Postural Control When Performing Challenging Balance Exercises. Brain Sciences, 10(3), 128. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10030128
Savaş, B. Ç., Ulupınar, S., Özbay, S., Gençoğlu, C., Turan, M., Asan, S., Mavibaş, M., Namlı, S., Karababa, B., & Yılmaz, E. (2025). Animal Flow as a Supplementary Training Tool for Basketball: A 12-Week Randomized Controlled Trial. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences, 16(3), 798–817. https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1672553
Schoenfeld, B. J., & Grgic, J. (2020). Effects of range of motion on muscle development during resistance training interventions: A systematic review. In SAGE Open Medicine (Vol. 8). SAGE Publications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050312120901559
Sidik, M. A., Pranoto, A., Wijaya, F. J. M., Mahardika, I. M. S. U., Suyoko, A., Pramono, B. A., Wahyudi, A. R., Faruk, M., Wulandari, N. S., & Orhan, B. E. (2025). The effect of animal movement exercises on improving upper and lower body muscles in children with down syndrome. Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports, 29(3), 204–210. https://doi.org/10.15561/26649837.2025.0306
Sugiyono. (2024). Metode Penelitian Eksperimen (Pendekatan Kuantitatif, Kombinasi dan R&D) (1st ed.). Alfabeta.
Taherdoost, H. (2016). Sampling Methods in Research Methodology; How to Choose a Sampling Technique for Research. In International Journal of Academic Research in Management (IJARM) (Vol. 5, Number 2). https://ssrn.com/abstract=3205035
Wang, S., & Liu, J. (2025). Comparing the effects of physical activity and cognitive training on cognitive performance, physical fitness, and mental health in 9- to 10-year-old children: a randomized clinical trial. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1555451
Wiseman, A. L. A., Bishop, P. J., Demuth, O. E., Cuff, A. R., Michel, K. B., & Hutchinson, J. R. (2021). Musculoskeletal modelling of the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) hindlimb: Effects of limb posture on leverage during terrestrial locomotion. Journal of Anatomy, 239(2), 424–444. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13431
Zhao, Q., Wang, Y., Niu, Y., & Liu, S. (2023). Jumping Rope Improves the Physical Fitness of Preadolescents Aged 10-12 Years: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 22(2), 367–380. https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2023.367
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Jurnal Master Penjas & Olahraga
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
