A scalable school‐based intervention to increase early adolescents' motor competence and health‐related fitness

Abstract

Schools are key settings for the promotion of students' physical activity, fitness, and motor competence. The purpose of our study was to investigate the efficacy of a 5‐month‐long intervention program that aimed to increase students' motor competence and health‐related fitness during school days. We conducted a quasi‐experimental study with 325 Finnish Grade 5 (Mage = 11.26, SD = 0.33) students from five schools. Two schools were allocated to the intervention group and three schools to the control group. The intervention consisted of three components: (a) weekly 20 min session during regular PE lessons, (b) weekly 20 min session during recess, and (c) daily 5‐minute‐long classroom activity breaks. All activities were designed to systematically develop different elements of motor competence and fitness. The following assessments were conducted at baseline and 5‐months: cardiorespiratory fitness levels were measured by 20‐meter shuttle run test, muscular fitness by curl‐up and push‐up tests, and motor competence by 5‐leaps and throwing–catching combination tests. We analyzed the data using a multi‐group latent change score modeling. Results showed that students in the intervention group developed significantly better in 20‐meter shuttle run test (β = 0.269, p = 0.000, 95% CI [0.141, 0.397]; +5.0 laps), push‐up (β = 0.442, p = 0.000, 95% CI [0.267, 0.617]; +6.5 repetitions), curl‐up (β = 0.353, p = 0.001, 95% CI [0.154, 0.552]; +7.8 repetitions), and throwing–catching combination tests (β = 0.195, p = 0.019, 95% CI [0.033, 0.356]; +1.1 repetitions) than students in the control group. The intervention program appeared to be feasible and effective in increasing students' cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and object control skills. This indicates that guided school‐based physical activity programs can be influential in promoting physical fitness and motor competence among early adolescent students.

Effects of low-volume functional and running high-intensity interval training on physical fitness in young adults with overweight/obesity

“…The cardiorespiratory response to HIIT has attracted intense attention among researchers. We used 20-m SRT to estimate the VO 2max as previous studies suggested ( Huhtiniemi et al, 2023 ; Luo et al, 2023 ). We found a significant increase in VO 2max among subjects after two regimes of HIIT, which is unsurprising, as previous studies have shown that HIIT based on running or cycling can significantly increase VO 2max ( Batacan et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and maximal aerobic speed (MAS) were measured by a multistage 20-m shuttle run test (20-m SRT). The 20-m SRT is widely used to test the cardiorespiratory fitness and has been validated as a reliable predictor of maximum oxygen uptake (VO 2max ) ( Leger and Lambert, 1982 ; Huhtiniemi et al, 2023 ; Luo et al, 2023 ). Compared to traditional methods of assessing VO 2max, the 20-m SRT is simple, easy to administer and not too time-consuming, it requires minimal equipment, and a large number of individuals can be tested simultaneously ( Mayorga-Vega et al, 2015 ).…”

Comparison of Estonian Schoolchildren’s Physical Activity and Fitness Indicators before and after the COVID-19 Pandemic’s Period of Restricted Mobility

“…Fortunately, the situation can still be improved. Huhtiniemi and colleagues (2023) have shown that if physical fitness exercises are consistently integrated into school programs, all indicators of health-related physical fitness improve [ 8 ]. And, of course, regular weekly exercise helps to increase the level of physical fitness, especially just muscle strength and cardiorespiratory endurance [ 6 ].…”

“…It is well known that to improve physical fitness, children aged 5–17 must engage in moderate to vigorous physical activities, as recommended by the WHO [ 5 ]. Both regular weekly training [ 6 , 7 ] and short, intense exercises during school [ 8 ] contribute to the development of strength and endurance.…”

Exercise training and physical activity in children: Hard interval training or low hanging fruits to ensure normal growth and maturation for the sake of lifelong physical activity?

“…2,3 The study by Grendstad and Hallen also suggests that focusing on other type of training does not either compromise the development of VO 2max if the main interest is in the endurance sports. Higher intensity training is often required for further development when fitness is high but concentrating more on "low hanging fruits" such as general active lifestyle and training various (motor) skills, technique, speed, agility, jumps, strength, balance, and coordination might develop more balanced and prepared body 4,5 for development and harder training later in adolescence and adulthood. This might also better reduce sports-related problems in youth such as overuse injuries 6,7 when training is not monotonic and too intensive.…”