title: Long-term effects of physically active academic lessons on physical fitness and executive functions in primary school children.
abstract: Integrating physical activity into the curriculum has potential health and cognitive benefits in primary school children. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of physically active academic lessons on cardiovascular fitness, muscular fitness and executive functions. In the current randomized controlled trial, 499 second and third graders within 12 primary schools (mean age = 8.1 ± 0.7) were randomized to the intervention (n = 249) or control condition (n = 250). The physically active academic lessons were given for 2 consecutive school years, 22 weeks per year, three times a week, with a duration of 20-30 min per lesson. Multiple tests were administered before, between and after the intervention period, measuring cardiovascular fitness, muscular fitness and executive functions. Multilevel analysis accounted for the nested structure of the children within classes and schools. Results showed a larger improvement in speed-coordination (B = -0.70,P = 0.002) and a lower improvement in static strength (B = -0.92,P < : 0.001) for the intervention group compared with the control group. The current lessons did not result in a significant change in executive functions.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands, j.w.de.greeff@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: de Greeff
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mullender-Wijnsma
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of Educational Sciences, Grote Rozenstraat 3, 9712 TG, Groningen and University of Groningen, Groningen Institute for Educational Research (GION), Grote Rozenstraat 3, 9712 TG Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bosker
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of Educational Sciences, Grote Rozenstraat 3, 9712 TG, Groningen and University of Groningen, Groningen Institute for Educational Research (GION), Grote Rozenstraat 3, 9712 TG Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doolaard
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Visscher
mesh_terms: D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*