EFFECTS OF A PSYCHOMOTOR EXERCISE PROGRAM DEVELOPED IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, IN THE SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM/PSE

Abstract

To analyze the effects of a neuropsychomotor intervention program (NPM) developed in Primary Health Care (PHC) in typically developing children, focusing on improving motor skills. This was an experimental, longitudinal, and quantitative study conducted in a public school in Teresina-PI, with 42 children aged four to six years. The Motor Development Scale (MDS) by Rosa Neto (2002) was used in the pre- and post-test phases, assessing gross motor skills, fine motor skills, balance, spatial organization, body schema, and language. The intervention was based on the main motor needs identified and applied in groups, once a week, for three months. After the intervention, the skills with the highest proportion of delay improved: balance decreased from 83% to 15%, fine motor skills from 71% to 30%, and spatial organization from 71% to 35%. In the General Motor Quotient (GMQ), the categories "Inferior" and "Low Normal" were zero, while "Superior" and "Very Superior" increased from 7% and 3% to 17% and 37%, respectively. The neuropsychomotor exercise program proved to be an effective intervention, promoting improvement in motor skills that were below expected levels for the age, balancing the GMQ. These data reinforce the essential role of the Physical Education Professional in Primary Health Care.