Short bouTs of Exercise for Preschool-age Children

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Physical Activity
• Interventions: Behavioral: Unstructured physical activity; Behavioral: Short bouts of structured physical activity

• Registration Number: NCT01588392
• Lead Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine if short bouts of structured physical activity implemented within the classroom setting as part of designated gross-motor playtime will increase preschool-age children during-school physical activity level.

Detailed Description

Most preschool centers provide two 30-minute sessions of gross-motor/outdoor playtime per preschool day. Within this time frame, children accumulate most of their activity within the first 10 minutes. This study is a cluster randomized controlled study designed to examine the effects of short bouts of structured physical activity implemented within the classroom setting as part of designated gross-motor playtime on during-school physical activity in preschoolers. Results from this intervention could provide evidence that a physical activity policy that exposes preschoolers to shorter bouts of structured physical activity throughout the preschool day could potentially increase preschooler's physical activity levels.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-11
• Study First Submitted: 2012-04-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-04-26
• Study First Posted: 2012-05-01
• Primary Completion: 2013-05
• Study Completion: 2013-09
• Status Verified: 2023-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-06-07
• Last Update Posted: 2023-06-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 323

Inclusion Criteria

• Attend one of 10 participating preschool centers
• Attend preschool full-time
• Children between 2.9 - 5 years of age on the date of baseline assessment

Exclusion Criteria

• Did not have a condition limiting their participation in routine gross-motor playtime at preschool
• Unable to wear the activity monitor

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Unstructured physical activity	Unstructured physical activity	-
Short bouts of structured activity	Short bouts of structured physical activity	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline in Physical activity levels at 6-month	Baseline, 3-month and 6-month after study initiation	Physical activity levels will be assessed with accelerometer and direct observation system

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Preschool centers in Springfield, MA; 🇺🇸 Springfield, Massachusetts, United States