A Multicomponent Physical Activity Intervention Effect on Weekly Steps and Physical Fitness in Preadolescents

A Multicomponent Physical Activity Intervention Effect on Weekly Steps and Physical Fitness in Preadolescents: A Pretest-Posttest Study and Randomized Control Trial

This study examines the effects of a 16-week structured physical activity program on physical fitness, steps number, and body mass index in children aged 8 to 10 years.

Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group that participated in the physical activity program or a control group that continued with their usual daily activities without additional intervention.

Physical fitness outcomes include standing broad jump, handgrip strength, and 20-meter shuttle run performance. Body mass index is calculated from measured height and body mass.

The goal of the study is to determine whether participation in a multicomponent physical activity intervention leads to greater improvements in physical fitness, steps number, and body composition compared with no additional intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Multicomponent 16-week Program Comprised of a Goal Setting, Wearable Activity Tracker Feedback, Physical Exercising, and Motivating Students to be Active
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Multicomponent Physical Activity Program

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a multicomponent physical activity intervention on physical fitness, steps number, and body mass index in preadolescent children.

Children aged 8 to 10 years were recruited from a primary school setting and randomly allocated to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group participated in a structured physical activity program and motivational strategies lasting 16 weeks, while the control group continued their regular daily routines and school activities without additional intervention activities provided by the study.

The physical activity program consisted of planned sessions designed to develop muscular strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, speed, and coordination through age-appropriate exercises and games.

Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention period. Physical fitness was evaluated using the standing broad jump (lower-body muscular power), handgrip strength (upper-body muscular strength), and the 20-meter shuttle run test (cardiorespiratory fitness). Body mass index was calculated using measured body mass and height.

The primary objective of the study was to determine whether children participating in the intervention demonstrate greater improvements in physical fitness and body mass index compared with children in the control group.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 178
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Czechia
  • Přerov, Czechia
    • Zakladni skola Travnik
• Serbia
  • Belgrade, Serbia, 11000
    • University of Belgrade - Faculty of Sport and Physical Education

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 8 to 10 years.
• Enrollment in regular primary school.
• Written informed consent obtained from parent or legal guardian.
• Ability to participate in physical education and physical activity.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medical conditions or physical disabilities that limit participation in physical activity.
• Acute illness or injury at the time of testing.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Physical Activity Intervention Group; Participants receive a 16-week structured multicomponent physical activity program.	Behavioral: Multicomponent Physical Activity Program; Structured physical activity sessions and motivational procedures designed to improve muscular strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, speed, and coordination.
No Intervention: Control Group; Participants continue their usual daily activities without additional intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Handgrip Strength	Handgrip Strength in kg	Baseline and 16 weeks
Standing Broad Jump Distance	Assessment of lower-body muscular power measured in centimeters	Baseline and 16 weeks
20-Meter Shuttle Run Performance	20-Meter Shuttle Run result in seconds	Baseline and 16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body Mass Index (BMI)	BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared.	Baseline and 16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Belgrade

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 31, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 3, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): March 3, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 31, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 31, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 31, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Randomized Control Trial; Pretest-Posttest Study; physical activity intervention, children, preadolescents, physical fitness, body mass index, school-based intervention
• Other Study ID Numbers: COMPASS-2022

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No