Active City of Liverpool Active Schools and SportsLinx Project: a Clustered Randomised Controlled Trial

Summary

The purpose of the A-CLASS project was to measure the effect of the 4 hour offer on children's physical activity, health and physical competence.

Conditions

• Physical Activity
• Health Behavior

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

High intensity physical activity (HIPA)

This arm consisted of a twice-weekly after-school club at the intervention school for 26 weeks during school term time, delivered by qualified coaches. Each 60 minute session engaged participants in high-intensity vigorous activity using a combination of playground-style games and circuit training activities that aimed to keep children moving and maintain a mean heart rate above 70% of age-predicted maximum heart rate (\~145 beats/min) for the session duration. Intensity was verified by heart rate monitoring. Coaches delivered and monitored sessions and increased the intensity over time to allow for the children to progress. The mean heart rate for HIPA sessions was 150 beats/min, with children spending 52 min at this intensity during the session.

BEHAVIORAL

Fundamental movement skill (FMS)

This arm consisted of a twice-weekly after-school club at the intervention school for 26 weeks during school term time, delivered by qualified coaches. Each 60 minute session focused on improving two skills from the vertical jump, hop, sprint run, dodge, kick, catch, overarm throw, and strike. All skills were taught in equal quantities. Each session was designed to maximise participation and enjoyment, and consisted of various games, drills, self-learning activities, and offered numerous opportunities for practice. Skill components were taught to the children using simple learning cues, and skill related questions were used to develop purposeful feedback. The mean heart rate for FMS sessions was recorded at 141 beats/min, with children spending 55 min at this intensity during the session.

BEHAVIORAL

Physical activity signposting (PASS)

A researcher visited participants once per week in 6 weekly blocks to set an activity mission to complete outside school with family and friends. Twenty missions were set over 4 x 6 week blocks, each separated by a 6 week break. Each mission suggests a task as a prompt to participate in physical activity and decrease sedentariness during the week. Children received a sticker on a wall chart for returning the mission; children were rewarded with prizes if all missions were returned in each block. If all missions were returned in a block, a reward was given. 58% of children returned all twenty missions. In addition to the missions, pedometers were issued as a promotional tool for the duration of the project for self-monitoring of activity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Teesside University

  collaborator OTHER

• Liverpool John Moores University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Gareth Stratton, PhD · Swansea University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

9 Years

Max Age

10 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2006-09-30

Primary Completion

2009-11-30

Completion

2009-11-30