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NCT07719803

Overview

NCT ID: NCT07719803
Lead Sponsor: Shanghai University of SportOTHER
Official Title: Grade-Specific Effects of HIIT and MICT During School Recess on Observable Classroom Attention-Related Behavior in Primary School Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Brief Summary: This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether structured exercise during school recess could improve observable classroom attention-related behavior in primary school children and whether the effects differed between grade levels.

A total of 144 third- and fifth-grade students were randomly assigned to one of three groups: high-intensity interval training (HIIT), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), or routine recess activity. The intervention lasted 6 weeks and was conducted three times per week during scheduled school recess. Each structured exercise session lasted 15 minutes, including warm-up, a 9-minute main exercise component, and cool-down.

Observable classroom attention-related behavior was assessed before and after the intervention using an automated video-based behavioral analysis system. The system evaluated observable indicators including head posture, eye gaze, eye opening or closing, and facial detection persistence. The study compared changes among the three groups and examined whether the effects of HIIT and MICT differed between third- and fifth-grade students.

Status and Timeline

Status: Completed
Last Update Posted: Aug 3, 2026Actual
Start Date: Jul 23, 2024Actual
Primary Completion Date: Sep 20, 2024Actual
Completion Date

Participation Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study: Child (0-17)
Sexes Eligible for Study: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Yes
Eligibility Criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Students enrolled in the third or fifth grade at the participating primary school.

Aged 8 to 12 years.

Able to participate in routine physical education classes and school recess activities.

Free from musculoskeletal injury or any medical condition that contraindicated participation in physical exercise.

Written informed consent provided by a parent or legal guardian.

Verbal assent provided by the participating child.

Willing and able to complete the baseline assessment, exercise intervention, and post-intervention assessment.

Exclusion Criteria:

Musculoskeletal injury, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, neurological disorder, or other medical condition that made participation in moderate- or high-intensity exercise unsafe.

A diagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, intellectual disability, or other psychological or developmental condition that could substantially affect participation or assessment of classroom attention-related behavior.

Color blindness or another visual impairment that could interfere with the study assessments.

Participation in a structured high-intensity exercise training program during the 3 months before enrollment.

Regular participation in systematic extracurricular exercise training that could substantially affect the intervention response.

Inability to complete the intervention or study assessments.

Absence from three or more intervention sessions.

Withdrawal of parental or guardian consent or withdrawal of the child's assent.

Study Plan

Study Type: Interventional
Phase: Not Applicable
Enrollment: 144Actual
Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)

Contacts and Locations

Central Contacts: No data available
Locations: Shanghai University of Sport

Similar Studies

Participant Group/Arms

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) GroupExperimental

Participants received a structured high-intensity interval training program during scheduled school recess for 6 weeks, three sessions per week, for a total of 18 sessions. Each 15-minute session included a 3-minute warm-up, a 9-minute HIIT component, and a 3-minute cool-down. The HIIT component consisted of jumping jacks, cross jumps, vertical jumps, and burpees. Each movement was performed for 30 seconds followed by 30 seconds of recovery. The sequence was completed twice, with a 1-minute rest between sets. The target intensity during the main exercise component was at least 85% of age-predicted maximal heart rate.

Behavioral: High-Intensity Interval Training During School Recess

Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) GroupActive Comparator

Participants received a structured moderate-intensity continuous training program during scheduled school recess for 6 weeks, three sessions per week, for a total of 18 sessions. Each 15-minute session included a 3-minute warm-up, 9 minutes of continuous aerobic running, and a 3-minute cool-down. The target intensity during the continuous running component was maintained at 60% to 69% of age-predicted maximal heart rate. Heart rate was monitored during each session to confirm adherence to the prescribed exercise intensity.

Behavioral: Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training During School Recess

Routine Recess Control GroupNo Intervention

Participants continued the routine recess activities arranged by the school and received no additional structured exercise intervention. Routine activities included walking, free play, standing rest, and other usual unstructured or school-arranged recess behaviors. Participants followed the same school schedule as the two structured exercise groups and returned to classroom learning at the same time.