Physical Activity
Conditions
Brief summary
This study evaluates the effects of an 8-week gamified cooperative exergaming program implemented during regular physical education lessons in primary school children. Participants were assigned by classroom to either an experimental group, which completed "The Movement League" program integrating dance-based exergames, cooperative learning, and gamification, or a control group, which received conventional physical education. The study aims to determine whether this multicomponent intervention improves motivation toward physical education, increases habitual physical activity, and reduces sedentary behavior compared with standard physical education.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALGamified Cooperative Exergaming Program (The Movement League)
Participants received an 8-week gamified cooperative exergaming program ("The Movement League") delivered during regular physical education lessons (two 50-minute sessions per week). The intervention integrated dance-based exergames, cooperative learning, gamification, and symbolic rewards to promote motivation, physical activity, and reduce sedentary behavior.
Participants received the school's standard physical education curriculum for 8 weeks (two 50-minute sessions per week), using conventional teaching methods and activities without exergames, gamification, or structured cooperative learning components.
Sponsors
University of Jaén
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
8 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Children aged 8 to 12 years. * Enrolled in grades 3 to 6 of primary school. * Able to participate safely in regular physical education classes. * Written informed consent provided by a parent or legal guardian. * Verbal assent provided by the participant.
Exclusion criteria
* Physical pathology or medical contraindication preventing safe participation in physical activity. * Formal diagnosis of severe learning difficulties or developmental disorders. * Failure to complete the outcome assessments at both baseline and post-intervention. * Attendance at fewer than 14 of the 16 intervention sessions (less than 85% adherence).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Health-Related Physical Fitness | Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention | Change in health-related physical fitness measured using the ALPHA-Fitness Test Battery, including cardiorespiratory fitness (20-m shuttle run), lower-body muscular power (standing long jump), upper-body muscular strength (handgrip strength), and speed-agility (4 × 10 m shuttle run). |
| Motor Competence | Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention | Change in motor competence measured using the Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment (CAMSA), including movement skill quality, task completion time, and total score. |
| Physical Activity Self-Perceptions | Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention | Change in physical activity self-perceptions measured using the Children's Self-Perceptions of Adequacy in and Predilection for Physical Activity (CSAPPA) questionnaire, including adequacy, predilection, enjoyment, and total score. |
Countries
Spain
Outcome results
None listed