Effects of a playground marking intervention on school recess physical activity in French children.
OBJECTIVE
Playground interventions offer an opportunity to enhance school recess physical activity. We aimed to assess the effects of playground marking on objectively measured school recess physical activity in French children.


METHODS
Participants were four hundred and twenty children (6-11years old) from 4 primary schools in Nord-Pas de Calais, France. Children's physical activity (PA) was measured with a uniaxial accelerometer twice a day (morning and afternoon recess) during a 4-day school week in April and May 2009. Two experimental schools (EG) received a recess-based intervention (playground markings) and two others served as controls (CG). Percentage of time spent on the following intensities of physical activity during school recess was measured before and after intervention: sedentary (SED), light physical activity (LPA), moderate physical activity (MPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA), very high physical activity (VHPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).


RESULTS
At baseline, school recess PA among children from CG was significantly (p<0.001) higher than that among EG children. No interaction was observed between the recess-based intervention and gender. After the intervention, the EG spent significantly (p<0.05) more time in MPA, VPA and MVPA with a concomitant significant decrease in SED (p<0.05) compared to baseline, while the PA in CG remained unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
Painted playground markings had a positive short-term effect on school recess physical activity levels.
University of Lille Nord de France, UDSL, EA 4488 "Physical Activity, Muscle, Health", Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, 9 Rue de l'Université, 59790 Ronchin, France.
Aurélie
A
Blaes
Nicola D
ND
Ridgers
Julien
J
Aucouturier
Emmanuel
E
Van Praagh
Serge
S
Berthoin
Georges
G
Baquet
D061725:Accelerometry; D002648:Child; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011998:Recreation; D012572:School Health Services; D012737:Sex Factors
Accelerometry; Behavior; Boys; Girls; Play