Effects of Physical Activity on Math - an RCT

July 1, 2015 updated by: Mona Have, University of Southern Denmark

Effects of a School-based Physical Activity Intervention on Math Achievement - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Increased physical activity can improve cognition and academic skills. However due to economic concerns and increasing focus on standardized testing, PA in schools often receives little attention and physical education is reduced in many countries in favor of spending more time devoted to academic classes. This tendency is not compatible with the increasing evidence for the association between physical activity, fitness, cognitive and academic performance.

Despite increasing evidence for the association between PA, fitness, cognitive and academic performance, very few longitudinal high-quality studies exists examining the effect of physical activity on academic performance (ref.). Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge only two studies have assessed academic outcomes following the integration of physical activity into the classroom with intervention participants scoring significantly higher in test sections compared to controls which makes generalizing from these results challenging.

To promote policy changes that require more physical activity in school, empirical data are needed to study the effects of school-based physical activity programs. Therefore the investigators carried out a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted to examine the effect on math achievement and executive functions of classroom based PA in math.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Study Design

Twelve elementary schools were cluster randomized to the active math intervention or served as control. Randomization was performed by shuffling sealed envelopes with intervention allocation inside to determine group assignment. This happened in a meeting where the leaders of the schools, employees at the municipalities and the responsible researcher were present. The study lasted for a school year (43 weeks) and the subjects were tested before and after the nine-month long intervention.

All tests were performed within one week except for the objective measurement of physical activity (PA) via accelerometer (ActiGraph, 7163, Pensacola, FL), which took place in a separate week, just before baseline and endline. In the intervention period (38 weeks) the participants received on average 6 mathematics lessons of 45 minutes per week with respectively physically active and traditional teaching.

The intervention

The intervention consisted of math teaching focusing on implementing PA in the classroom as a facilitating instrument. Teachers were told to include at least 15 minutes of physical activity in each 45 minutes math lesson. In addition sedentary activities were only allowed to last for maximum 20 minutes. Classroom-based PA had the aim of creating a meaningful binding between the mathematical concepts and a specific physical activity to improve mental representation of mathematics and thus contribute to understanding and memory of the mathematical concepts.

Classroom teacher training for implementation of the intervention

Training was provided to math teachers at each intervention school in a course given by the responsible group of researchers. The training was planned in collaboration between mathematics teachers in the intervention schools and the responsible group of researchers and was based on the curriculum for mathematics in Danish public schools. The planning of the teaching content took place on a 4-day mandatory course for all mathematics teachers with the purpose to enable the teachers to teach active mathematics and thereby to promote the math achievement.

As part of the course the teachers received a folder with suggestions for PA in math made by the responsible group of researchers. In addition they developed activities with specific instructions and inspiration for how teachers could incorporate PA as an element of academic instruction. Since the teacher's motivation and involvement can influence the outcome of the study, emphasis was placed on creating high motivation in the course by increasing understanding of the numerous positive cognitive effects of PA.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
545

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

6 years to 8 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 1st Grade primary school children on public schools

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Physical disabilities
  • No written informed consent from parents

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
No Intervention: Normal math
This arm serves as the control group receiving regular math lessons
Experimental: Active math
This arm serves as the intervention group receiving physically active math lessons
Behavioral: Physically active math lessons
The intervention consists of a nine month period with physical activity as part of, and integrated, in math lessons

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Math Skills, as measured by a 45-minute standardized math test specifically designed for this age group by the developer of the Danish national tests (MG) (Hoegrefe Forlag).
Time Frame: Change from Baseline Math Skills at 9 months
During the first three weeks prior to randomization and intervention, and the last two weeks of the protocol after the intervention period.
Change from Baseline Math Skills at 9 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cardiovascular Fitness, as measured by intermittent shuttle-run test (the Andersen intermittent running test).
Time Frame: Change from Baseline Cardiovascular Fitness at 9 months
During the first three weeks prior to randomization and intervention, and the last two weeks of the protocol after the intervention period.
Change from Baseline Cardiovascular Fitness at 9 months
Body height as measured without shoes to the nearest 0.5 cm using Harpenden stadiometer (West Sussex, UK). Body mass as measured in light clothing to the nearest 0.1 kg using an electronic scale (Tanita BWB-800, Tokyo, Japan).
Time Frame: Change from Baseline Body Composition at 9 months
During the first three weeks prior to randomization and intervention, and the last two weeks of the protocol after the intervention period.
Change from Baseline Body Composition at 9 months
Activity Behavior as measured by questionnaires sent via SMS
Time Frame: Short Message Service from the parents of the participant during the nine month long intervention period
Once a week during the 9 month long intervention, the parents answered questions concerning the children's PA in leisure time and transportation to school.
Short Message Service from the parents of the participant during the nine month long intervention period
Objective Physical Activity level, as measured by using accelerometry (ActiGraph, GT3X and GT3X+)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline Objective Physical Activity level at 9 months
During the first three weeks prior to randomization and intervention, and the last two weeks of the protocol after the intervention period.
Change from Baseline Objective Physical Activity level at 9 months
Physical Activity during Math Lessons, as measured by using accelerometry (ActiGraph, GT3X and GT3X+)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline Objective Physical Activity level during math lessons at 9 months
During the first three weeks prior to randomization and intervention, and the last two weeks of the protocol after the intervention period.
Change from Baseline Objective Physical Activity level during math lessons at 9 months
Executive Functions, as measured by a modified Eriksen flanker task
Time Frame: Change from Baseline Executive Functions at 9 months
During the first three weeks prior to randomization and intervention, and the last two weeks of the protocol after the intervention period.
Change from Baseline Executive Functions at 9 months
Creativity, as measured by the Torrance Test of Creativity
Time Frame: Change from Baseline Creativity at 9 months
During the first three weeks prior to randomization and intervention, and the last two weeks of the protocol after the intervention period.
Change from Baseline Creativity at 9 months
Teacher Motivation, as measured by Short Message Service
Time Frame: Short Message Service during the last 6 months of the intervention period
Once every month the teacher answers how motivated they feel to integrate PA in to the Math lessons
Short Message Service during the last 6 months of the intervention period
Excutive function, as measured by the BRIEF-questionnaire
Time Frame: Change from Baseline Executive Functions at 9 months
During the first three weeks prior to randomization and intervention, and the last two weeks of the protocol after the intervention period.
Change from Baseline Executive Functions at 9 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Southern Denmark

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
IMK Fonden

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Mona H. Sørensen, PhD Fellow, University of Southern Denmark

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 1, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 8, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 1, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 2, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 2, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 1, 2015

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • h5vadgyk

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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