Experiences from a randomised, controlled trial on cycling to school: does cycling increase cardiorespiratory fitness?
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of a 12-week randomised controlled cycling-to-school trial on cardiorespiratory fitness.


METHODS
A total of 53 10- to 13-year-old children from one public school were included. The children were randomised into either a cycling group or a control group. The cycling group was encouraged to cycle to and from school each day during a period of 12 weeks. Peak oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)) and anthropometrical data (weight and height) were measured at baseline and at the end of the 12-week period.


RESULTS
No significant differences were observed in VO(2peak) change over the 12-week period between the cycling group and the control group (49.7 ml O(2)/min/kg vs. 50.6 ml O(2) /min/kg; effect size=-0.13, F=0.495, p=0.486). Within the intervention group, 69.2% (95% CI 50.1-88.2) started cycling, and within the control group 40.8% (95% CI 20.9-60.5) started cycling. Given that several children in both groups (intervention and control) started cycling to school, re-analyses were conducted between those starting cycling and those not starting cycling. At follow up, a significant difference between those starting cycling and those who did not starting cycling was observed in VO(2peak) (51.7 ml O(2)/min/kg vs. 47.9 ml O(2)/min/kg; effect size=0.49, F=8.145, p=0.007), after adjustment for baseline scores, gender and age.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that cycling to school improves cardiorespiratory fitness.
Institute of Public Health, Sport and Nutrition, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway. line.borrestad@uia.no
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D000293:Adolescent; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D002319:Cardiovascular System; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013334:Students