Can lay-led walking programmes increase physical activity in middle aged adults? A randomised controlled trial

IntroductionHong Kong is a highly urbanised city where many people work long hours. The limited time and lack of professional instruction are the typical barriers to exercise. The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of an information technology-based lifestyle intervention programme on improving physical activity (PA) level and health status in a sample of middle-aged Hong Kong adults.Methods and analysisA two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial named ‘Follow Your Virtual Trainer’ will be conducted among 200 physically inactive Chinese adults aged from 40 to 65 years. Those randomly allocated to an intervention group will be under the instruction of a web-based computer software termed ‘Virtual Trainer (VT)’ to conduct a 3-month self-planned PA programme. A series of online seminars with healthy lifestyle information will be released to the participants biweekly for 3 months. After that, 6 months observation will follow. Those in the control group will only receive a written advice of standard PA recommendation and the textual content of the seminars. The assessments will be implemented at baseline, the 3rd, 6th and 9th months. The primary outcome is PA measured by accelerometer and International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The secondary outcomes include cardiorespiratory fitness, resting energy expenditure, anthropometrics, body composition, blood pressure, health-related quality of life, sleep quality and quantity, fatigue, behaviour mediators and maintenance of PA. The main effectiveness of the intervention will be assessed by a linear mixed model that tests the random effect of treatment on outcomes at the 3rd, 6th and 9th months.Ethics and disseminationThis trial has been approved by the Joint Chinese University of Hong Kong—New Territories East Cluster Clinical Research Ethics Committee (CRE 2015235). The study results will be presented at scientific conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT02553980.

Download Full-text

Randomised controlled trial comparing two group-based exercise programmes (team sport vs circuit training) on men’s health: study protocol

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001140 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. e001140

Author(s):

Henry T Blake ◽

Brad J Stenner ◽

Jonathan David Buckley ◽

Alyson J Crozier

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Team Sport ◽

Social Health ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Circuit Training ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Randomised Controlled

IntroductionPhysical activity promotes physical, psychological and social health. Despite this, almost half of middle-aged (35–54 years) Australian men are insufficiently active. Exercise adherence is increased with social interaction in a group setting. Team sport can leverage the power of groups and has shown to be more intrinsically motivating than discrete exercise modes. Evaluation of the effect of team sport compared with traditional group exercise on health, particularly psychological and social health, and physical activity levels of middle-aged men is limited. This study aims to compare the effects of team sport participation and group circuit training on physical activity levels and health in insufficiently active middle-aged men.Methods and analysisIn this parallel randomised controlled trial, n=128 men aged 35–54 years will complete a 12-week team sport or group circuit exercise programme. Participants must self-report to not be meeting Australian physical activity guidelines or participating in team sport before recruitment. Health-related quality of life, exercise motivation, psychological needs satisfaction, sleep and physical activity levels (accelerometry), blood lipids, glucose and metabolic syndrome risk score will be assessed at baseline, end of the programme and 12 weeks follow-up. Linear mixed effect models will be used.Ethics and disseminationThe study has received ethical approval from the University of South Australia’s Human Research Ethics Committee (Ethics Protocol 203274). Study results will be disseminated via publication in disciplinary-specific journals, conference presentations, and as part of a Doctoral thesis.Trial registration numberANCTRN12621000483853.

Download Full-text