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Effects of a Brief Physical Activity Program on Young Students' Physical Fitness

  • Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
  • West Virginia University School of Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to test whether brief daily activity could increase young students' physical fitness and compare different forms of intervention delivery.

METHODS: Two intervention groups were instructed to increase children's activity by 6 minutes daily. The principal was responsible for the intervention in the first group while classroom teachers were responsible in the second. The third group was a control. Success was defined by changes in student fitness.

RESULTS: The principal-led group had a significant increase in the number of 75-foot laps completed after intervention (+0.61 laps) and a significant decrease in after-exercise heart rate (-37.4 beats per minute) as compared with the control group. The teacher-led group experienced no change in either outcome.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that a 6-minute increase in activity can produce a significant improvement in student fitness. Administrative support of school-based interventions can have a positive impact on program completion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1145-52
Number of pages8
JournalClinical pediatrics
Volume54
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Guideline Adherence
  • Heart Rate/physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Activity/physiology
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
  • Physical Fitness/physiology

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