School-Based Physical Education Program and Its Effects on Motor Fitness in Malaysian Children (SPEP-FIT)

Impact of a Novel Primary School-based Physical Education Program on Physical and Motor Fitness of Malaysian Children: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the effects of a standard school physical education program (SPEP) and a rhythmic and gymnastic activities-based school physical education program (RGPEP) on the physical and motor fitness parameters of Malaysian primary school children.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Childhood Obesity; Child Development; Physical Fitness; Exercise Intervention; Physical Inactivity in Children
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Rhythmic and Gymnastic Activities-Based School Physical Education Program

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the impact of two distinct physical education programs on the physical and motor fitness of Malaysian primary school children. The intervention group participates in a rhythmic and gymnastic activities-based physical education program (RGPEP), designed to enhance balance, coordination, flexibility, and agility through structured, progressive activities. The control group follows the standard school physical education program (SPEP) in line with the national curriculum, which emphasizes general fitness and physical activity without specific rhythmic or gymnastic components.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 8 years at the time of enrollment.
• Both boys and girls.
• Regular school attendance during the academic year.
• No diagnosed health conditions or chronic diseases that could interfere with physical activity.
• Not involved in extracurricular sports activities outside the school environment.
• Not engaged in extra traveling to and from school on foot or by bicycle.
• Parents or legal guardians provided written informed consent.
• The child provided verbal assent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children missing more than 20% of scheduled physical education classes.
• Overweight children with a BMI ≥ 23 kg/m².
• Underweight children with a BMI < 18.5 kg/m².
• Children involved in regular sports training or participation in extracurricular sports activities during the intervention period.
• Children with any pre-existing medical conditions or injuries that could limit participation in physical activities.
• Children with developmental or motor impairments affecting their ability to perform the required fitness activities.
• Children on any medication that could interfere with their performance or physical fitness evaluation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Rhythmic and Gymnastics-Based Exercise Group; Participants in this arm received 80 sessions of a Rhythmic and Gymnastics-Based Physical Education Program (RGPEP) over an academic year. The program focused on rhythmic skills, gymnastics patterns, and movement-based activities designed to enhance motor and physical fitness.	Behavioral: Rhythmic and Gymnastic Activities-Based School Physical Education Program; A structured, year-long school-based physical education program integrating rhythmic movements, gymnastics, and small equipment exercises designed to enhance motor and physical fitness. The program included 80 sessions (two per week) focusing on rhythmic activities such as twisting, partner balance, animal walks, tumbling, and rope exercises. The intervention aimed to improve strength, flexibility, agility, and cardiovascular endurance compared to traditional physical education classes.
Active Comparator: Control group; Participants in this arm followed the standard Malaysian school physical education curriculum, which included 60 minutes of physical education and 30 minutes of health education per week, as prescribed by the Malaysian Ministry of Education.	Behavioral: Rhythmic and Gymnastic Activities-Based School Physical Education Program; A structured, year-long school-based physical education program integrating rhythmic movements, gymnastics, and small equipment exercises designed to enhance motor and physical fitness. The program included 80 sessions (two per week) focusing on rhythmic activities such as twisting, partner balance, animal walks, tumbling, and rope exercises. The intervention aimed to improve strength, flexibility, agility, and cardiovascular endurance compared to traditional physical education classes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Standing Broad Jump	The standing broad jump test measures lower body power in centimeters. Participants will perform a jump from a standing position, and the longest distance recorded will be used for analysis.	Baseline (Month 0) and Post-Intervention (Month 12).
20-Meter Sprint	Sprint speed will be assessed using a 20-meter sprint test. The time taken (in seconds) to complete the distance will be recorded.	Baseline (Month 0) and Post-Intervention (Month 12).
4 × 10-Meter Shuttle Run	Agility and speed will be measured using a 4 × 10-meter shuttle run test. Time to complete the test (in seconds) will be recorded.	Baseline (Month 0) and Post-Intervention (Month 12).
Push-Ups	Upper body endurance will be assessed using the push-up test. The number of correctly executed push-ups performed will be recorded.	Baseline (Month 0) and Post-Intervention (Month 12).
Sit and Reach Test	Flexibility will be assessed using the sit and reach test. The maximum reach distance (in centimeters) will be recorded.	Baseline (Month 0) and Post-Intervention (Month 12).
Multistage Shuttle Run Test	Cardiovascular endurance will be measured using the multistage shuttle run test. VO₂max (mL/kg/min) will be estimated based on performance.	Baseline (Month 0) and Post-Intervention (Month 12).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Height	Standing height will be measured using a stadiometer and recorded in centimeters.	Baseline (Month 0) and Post-Intervention (Month 12).
Weight	Body weight will be measured using a digital scale and recorded in kilograms.	Baseline (Month 0) and Post-Intervention (Month 12).
Body Mass Index	BMI will be calculated as weight (kg) divided by height squared (m²).	Baseline (Month 0) and Post-Intervention (Month 12).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hellenic Naval Academy
• Collaborators: Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 14, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 14, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): February 14, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 9, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 13, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 13, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise Program; Physical Education; Motor Fitness
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Obesity; Pediatric Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: Hellenic Naval Academy; PNURSP2025R424 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No