scholarly journals Physical Activity Benefits of Learning to Ride a Two-Wheel Bicycle for Children With Down Syndrome: A Randomized Trial

2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (10) ◽  
pp. 1463-1477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale A. Ulrich ◽  
Amy R. Burghardt ◽  
Meghann Lloyd ◽  
Chad Tiernan ◽  
Joseph E. Hornyak

Background People with Down syndrome (DS) display consistent patterns of physical inactivity. If these sedentary behaviors continue over extended periods of time, there will be negative health consequences. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the physical activity and health-related outcomes of teaching children with DS to ride a 2-wheel bicycle. Design This study was a randomized intervention in which the control group waited 1 year to receive the intervention. Setting This intervention study was conducted in a community setting. Participants The participants were children who were 8 to 15 years of age and who had been diagnosed with DS. Intervention The participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (bicycle intervention) or a control group (no intervention). Measurements Measurements were obtained in the month before the intervention (preintervention), at 7 weeks after the intervention, and at 12 months after the preintervention measurement for all participants. Results The results indicated no group differences at the preintervention session. Fifty-six percent of the participants in the experimental group successfully learned to ride a 2-wheel bicycle during the 5-day intervention. Analysis showed that participants who learned to ride spent significantly less time in sedentary activity at 12 months after the preintervention measurement and more time in moderate to vigorous physical activity than participants in the control group. Body fat appeared to be positively influenced over time in participants who learned to ride. Limitations It is unknown how frequently the children in the experimental group rode their bicycles after the intervention. Conclusions Most children who are 8 to 15 years of age and who have been diagnosed with DS can learn to ride a 2-wheel bicycle. Learning to ride can reduce time spent in sedentary activity and increase time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity, which may influence the health and functioning of these children.

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy S. Ha ◽  
Angus Burnett ◽  
Raymond Sum ◽  
Nikola Medic ◽  
Johan Y. Y. Ng

Abstract Physical activity in children and adolescents is on a decline trend. To this end, we conducted a matched-pair randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of a 4-week STAR (School-based; Train-the-trainer; Accessibility of resources; Recreational) skipping programme. 1,386 schoolchildren from 20 primary and secondary schools were recruited. Schools were randomized into the experimental or wait-list control group. Participants self-reported their health-related quality of life using the KIDSCREEN-27. Accelerometers were used to measure the time a subgroup of participants (n = 480) spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during school hours on five consecutive days. Measures were taken at pre- and post-test. At post-test, students in the experimental group, compared to those in the control group, engaged in less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during school hours. Health-related quality of life from two groups of students was similar, but the experimental group reported higher levels of autonomy and parent relationships. Results suggested that although the intervention did not increase students’ physical activity levels, it slightly improved their health-related quality of life. Future studies should explore personal factors that might mediate the effect of the intervention.


Author(s):  
Brianne A. Bruijns ◽  
Leigh M. Vanderloo ◽  
Brian W. Timmons ◽  
Patricia Tucker

Background: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) offers many health benefits for preschoolers (2.5–5 y). In childcare, MVPA is predominantly accumulated outdoors, with higher rates purported among children within the first few minutes outside. The Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment intervention included shorter, more frequent outdoor play sessions; this study sought to explore children’s activity levels during various outdoor play schedules. Methods: During the final week of the Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment intervention, preschoolers wore an Actical™ accelerometer for 5 days during childcare and staff logged outdoor times. Separate linear mixed effects models were run to explore the effect of the intervention on preschoolers’ physical activity (total and MVPA) and sedentary time during outdoor play. Sex was entered as an interaction effect. Results: Preschoolers (n = 292) were significantly more active in the first 10 minutes outdoors compared with remaining time (P < .0083). For total outdoor time, children in the experimental group engaged in significantly less sedentary time than those in the control group (P < .017), and experimental group boys and girls engaged in higher MVPA than boys and girls in the control group (P < .017). Conclusions: Findings support scheduling more frequent outdoor play sessions in childcare to increase physical activity participation among young children.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1025-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Dallolio ◽  
Andrea Ceciliani ◽  
Tiziana Sanna ◽  
Andrea Garulli ◽  
Erica Leoni

Background:A large proportion of children do not reach the recommended levels of physical activity for health. A quasiexperimental study with nonrandom assignment was performed to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of a school-based physical education intervention aimed at increasing the levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).Methods:Ten classes from 4 primary schools, including 241 children aged 8 to 10 years, were recruited. The experimental group (n = 97) received 4 additional sessions/week of 60 minutes of MVPA for 8 months. The control group (n = 135) continued their standard program (2 sessions of 50 minutes/week). Motor abilities (standing long jump, handgrip strength, Harre circuit, sit and reach), physical fitness (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level-1), anthropometric measures (body mass index, waist to height ratio), and self-efficacy (Perceived Physical Ability Scale for Children) were evaluated at baseline and after the intervention.Results:The experimental group significantly improved in the Harre circuit both in males (P < .001) and females (P < .01), whereas physical fitness test improved only in males (P < .001). Males in the experimental group improved the perception of self-efficacy in coordinative abilities (P = .017).Conclusions:The proposed school-based MVPA program showed effectiveness and feasibility. The differences observed by gender highlight the need to use different strategies to increase the involvement of all the participants.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 4127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dehong Yang ◽  
Xihe Zhu ◽  
Justin A. Haegele ◽  
Patrick B. Wilson ◽  
Xueping Wu

Physically active students are more likely to be fit and learn better in school than sedentary ones. For school-aged children, it is unclear whether physical fitness level is an important determinant for student’s activity afterschool. This study examined the association between health-related physical fitness test performance and afterschool physical activity during weekdays. Participants (n = 97, 11–13 years old) completed health-related fitness tests. They wore Actigraph GT3X accelerometers for five consecutive days, recording physical activity participation during after school hours. Descriptive statistics for both afterschool physical activity and health-related fitness were summarized. Regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between variables. Participants spent most of their afterschool hours participating in sedentary behaviors (274.27 ± 66.89 min) and light physical activity (73.68 ± 51.66 min), and only 11.35 ± 16.92 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), accumulating approximately 2058.52 ± 1690.56 steps each day afterschool. The regression model explained 22.8% of the variance in afterschool MVPA, and Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) scores were the only statistically significant predictor (β = 0.47, p < 0.01). Fit students do tend to exercise more after school. Promoting physical fitness in school is an important factor for students’ afterschool physical activity participation during weekdays.


2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Méndez-Giménez ◽  
José-Antonio Cecchini ◽  
Javier Fernández-Río

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze whether an intervention supported by free play with a self-constructed material increases the level of physical activity of students during recess. METHODS The participants were 166 children of third to sixth grade, between nine and 12 years old (average = 10.64; SS = 1.13). An experimental project was conducted with pre-test and post-test measurement, and a control group. Experimental group participants built cardboard paddles (third and fourth) and flying rings (fifth and sixth), a material they used freely for one week during recess. ActiGraph-GT3X accelerometers were used to measure physical activity. An ANOVA of repeated measures was used to find differences between groups and genders. RESULTS Significant intervention effects were found in the analyzed variables: sedentary activity (F = 38.19; p < 0.01), light (F = 76.56; p < 0.01), moderate (F = 27.44; p < 0.01), vigorous (F = 61.55; p < 0.01), and moderate and vigorous (F = 68.76; p < 0.01). Significant gender differences were shown (time × group × gender) for moderate (F = 6.58; p < 0.05) and vigorous (F = 5.51; p < 0.05) activity. CONCLUSIONS The self-constructed material is effective to increase the physical activity levels of children during recess; it decreases sedentary activity and light physical activity and increases the time devoted to moderate physical activity and vigorous physical activity, both in boys and in girls. The boys had an increase in vigorous physical activity and the girls in moderate physical activity. Due to its low cost, this strategy is recommended for administrators and teachers to increase the physical activity of children during recess.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leidys Gutiérrez-Martínez ◽  
Rocío Gámez Martínez ◽  
Silvia A González ◽  
Manuel A Bolívar ◽  
Omaira Valencia Estupiñan ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of the promotion of physical activity during recess on the levels of physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and adiposity of Colombian students. METHODS: Three schools were randomly selected by an intervention group in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2013: Intervention (Active Module of Active Recess – MARA) + Text Messages (SMS) (MARA+SMS group), intervention (MARA group), control (control group). Intervention was implemented for ten weeks. The duration and intensity of physical activity and sedentary behaviors were measured objectively using accelerometers Actigraph-GT3X+. Adiposity was measured by body mass index and fat percentage. We measured at baseline (T0) and during the tenth week of intervention (T1). We evaluated the effect of the intervention using a difference-in-difference analysis (DID). RESULTS: We included 120 students (57.5% girls; mean age = 10.5 years; standard deviation [SD] = 0.64). There was a significant increase in the mean daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity in the MARA group (Difference T1-T0 = 6.1 minutes, standard error [SE] = 3.49, p = 0.005) in relation to the control group. There were no significant changes in the minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity in the MARA+SMS group (Difference T1-T0 = -1.0 minute; SE = 3.06; p = 0.363). The minutes decreased in the control group (Difference T1-T0 = -7.7 minutes; SE = 3.15; p = 0.011). The minutes of sedentary behaviors decreased in the MARA and MARA+SMS groups and increased in the control group (MARA Difference T1-T0 = -15.8 minutes; SE = 10.05; p= 0.279; MARA+SMS Difference T1-T0 = -11.5 minutes; SE = 8.80; p= 0.869; Control Difference T1-T0 = 10.9 minutes; SE = 9.07; p = 0.407). There was a higher participation in the MARA group in relation to the MARA+SMS group (MARA group = 34.4%; MARA+SMS group = 12.1%). There were no significant changes in adiposity at 10 weeks according to difference-in-differences analysis (body mass index p: ΔMARA+SMS group versus Δcontrol group = 0.945, ΔMARA group versus Δcontrol group = 0.847, ΔMARA+SMS group versus ΔMARA group = 0.990; FP p ΔMARA+SMS group versus Δcontrol group = 0.788, ΔMARA group versus Δcontrol group = 0.915, ΔMARA+SMS group versus ΔMARA group = 0.975). CONCLUSIONS: The Active Module of Active Recess is a promising strategy to increase physical activity levels and decrease sedentary behavior in students. The addition of Text Messages was not associated with increased moderate to vigorous physical activity or changes in adiposity


Author(s):  
Manuel Ávila-García ◽  
María Esojo-Rivas ◽  
Emilio Villa-González ◽  
Pablo Tercedor ◽  
Francisco Javier Huertas-Delgado

Higher sedentary time and lower physical activity (PA) are associated with a poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children. The aims of this study were: (1) to analyze the sedentary time, objectively measured PA levels (light, moderate, vigorous, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)), and HRQoL dimensions (physical well-being, emotional well-being, self-esteem, family, friends, school, and total score) in children; and (2) to examine the association between sedentary time, PA levels, and HRQoL in children separately by sex. A total of 459 children (8.4 ± 0.4 years old, 50.54% males) from 15 schools in Granada (Spain) participated in the study. A tri-axial accelerometer was used to measure PA levels in the children for 7 consecutive days. The Revidierter KINDer Lebensqualitätsfragebogen (KINDL-R) questionnaire was used to determine the children’s HRQoL dimensions. The results showed that males presented more minutes engaged in MVPA than females. Both sedentary time and PA levels were associated with self-esteem and total score (all p < 0.05). In males, moderate and vigorous PA levels were associated with higher HRQoL, whereas light PA was associated with higher HRQoL in females. Future studies should take into account the use of activities with difference intensities in order to increase HRQoL in males and females.


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
José-Antonio Cecchini-Estrada ◽  
Antonio Méndez-Giménez

This longitudinal study investigated the effects of a mastery motivational climate in physical education (PE) classes on 2×2 achievement goal orientation and dominance, self-regulated learning (SRL), and physical activity (PA) in leisure time. A total of 408 (264 women, 144 men) university students were randomly assigned to two groups: experimental and control. For 12 weeks (24 one-hour sessions), the experimental group received an intervention programme based on TARGET model, which emphasized a mastery climate. The control group carried out the same content but without highlighting such strategies. By means of the structural equation model, true intraindividual change in relation to orientation to 2×2 achievement goals, SRL, and PA in leisure time was analyzed. An increase in different variables within the experimental group was confirmed, these being: (a) the orientation to and dominance of mastery-approach (MAp) goals at the expense of the remaining goals; (b) competences in SRL; and (c) moderate and vigorous levels of PA in their free time. In addition, intraindividual changes in the MAp goals were positively related to intraindividual changes in self-efficacy of learning, which, in turn, positively predicted intraindividual changes in PA, regardless of the group (experimental or control). Thus, the mastery climate increases the percentage of participants with a dominant MAp goal and can effectively help to promote regular habits of PA in free time, by mediation of self-efficacy in SRL.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie D. Patnode ◽  
Leslie A. Lytle ◽  
Darin J. Erickson ◽  
John R. Sirard ◽  
Daheia J. Barr-Anderson ◽  
...  

Background:While much is known about the overall levels of physical activity and sedentary activity among youth, few studies have attempted to define clusters of such behaviors. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe unique classes of youth based on their participation in a variety of physical activity and sedentary behaviors.Methods:Latent class analysis was used to characterize segments of youth based on patterns of self-reported and accelerometer-measured participation in 12 behaviors. Children and adolescents (N = 720) from 6th-11th grade were included in the analysis. Differences in class membership were examined using multinomial logistic regression.Results:Three distinct classes emerged for boys and girls. Among boys, the 3 classes were characterized as “Active” (42.1%), “Sedentary” (24.9%), and “Low Media/Moderate Activity” (33.0%). For girls, classes were “Active” (18.7%), “Sedentary” (47.6%), and “Low Media/Functional Activity” (33.7%). Significant differences were found between the classes for a number of demographic indicators including the proportion in each class who were classified as overweight or obese.Conclusions:The behavioral profiles of the classes identified in this study can be used to suggest possible audience segments for intervention and to tailor strategies appropriately.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corina Berli ◽  
Urte Scholz

Keeping a physically active lifestyle requires consistent self-regulatory effort such as action control (e.g., continuously monitoring and evaluating a behavior in terms of one’s goals). Involving the romantic partner in interventions might be particularly effective in the long run. The present study examined the long-term and transfer effects of an action control intervention in couples using text messaging for promoting target persons’ and partners’ physical activity, anthropometric measures and physical fitness 6 months post baseline. A total of 121 overweight and obese romantic couples, randomly allocated to an intervention (n = 60; information + action control text messages) or a control group (n = 61; information only) and to participating as target person or partner, completed baseline assessments (T1). 100 couples (82.6%) completed the 6-month follow-up (T3) assessment. Primary outcomes included self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and objective MVPA and MVPA adherence using triaxial accelerometers across a diary period of 14 days after T3. Secondary outcomes included BMI, waist-to-hip circumference and physical fitness (target persons only) using a submaximal aerobic cycle test. At T3, there were no significant between-group differences between target persons and partners with regard to their objective MVPA, self-reported MVPA, BMI, waist-hip ratio or physical fitness. No significant changes in outcomes were observed from T1 to T3; however, changes in BMI from T1 to T3 between target persons and partners in the intervention group were associated. Overall, the brief 14-days action control intervention was not effective in improving target person’s physical activity, body measures and physical fitness in the long-term. Moreover, no long-term benefits for partners emerged. While brief ecological momentary interventions might be a promising tool for short-term effects, future studies are needed to test features enhancing long-term effectiveness. Associations in romantic partners’ changes suggest that dyadic interventions can be a promising approach, as changes induced in one partner may then transfer over to the other (controlled-trials.com ISRCTN15705531).


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