title: Rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial examining the effect of classroom-based physical activity on math achievement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Integration of physical activity (PA) into the classroom may be an effective way of promoting the learning and academic achievement of children at elementary school. This paper describes the research design and methodology of an intervention study examining the effect of classroom-based PA on mathematical achievement, creativity, executive function, body mass index and aerobic fitness.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed as a school-based cluster-randomized controlled trial targeting schoolchildren in 1st grade, and was carried out between August 2012 and June 2013. Eligible schools in two municipalities in the Region of Southern Denmark were invited to participate in the study. After stratification by municipality, twelve schools were randomized to either an intervention group or a control group, comprising a total of 505 children with mean age 7.2 ± 0.3 years. The intervention was a 9-month classroom-based PA program that involved integration of PA into the math lessons delivered by the schools' math teachers. The primary study outcome was change in math achievement, measured by a 45-minute standardized math test. Secondary outcomes were change in executive function (using a modified Eriksen flanker task and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) questionnaire filled out by the parents), creativity (using the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking, TTCT), aerobic fitness (by the Andersen intermittent shuttle-run test) and body mass index. PA during math lessons and total PA (including time spent outside school) were assessed using accelerometry. Math teachers used Short Message Service (SMS)-tracking to report on compliance with the PA intervention and on their motivation for implementing PA in math lessons. Parents used SMS-tracking to register their children's PA behavior in leisure time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this randomized controlled trial are expected to provide schools and policy-makers with significant new insights into the potential of classroom-based PA to improve cognition and academic achievement in children.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02488460 (06/29/2015).
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark. mhsorensen@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Have
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jacob Have
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anne Kær
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gejl
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomsen Ernst
authors.affiliation: Department of Learning and Philosophy, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 5, P.O. Box 159, 9100, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kjeld
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fredens
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jan Toftegaard
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Støckel
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wedderkopp
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Sidsel Louise
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Domazet
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 19, 2., 5000, Odense C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gudex
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grøntved
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter Lund
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Kristensen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003718:Denmark; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D009043:Motor Activity; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012107:Research Design; D012572:School Health Services
keywords: Academic achievement; Classroom-based PA; Embodied cognition; Executive Functions; Methods; RCT; School children