Physical inactivity in NZ children is a major growing public health concern. Recent information from the Ministry of Health (2003) has shown almost a third (31%) of 5‐14 year olds were overweight or obese, with particularly high prevalence in Pacific Island (61%) and Maori populations (41%). Consequently, they have also highlighted that finding ways of increasing physical activity is an urgent public heath requirement. Circuit training (CT) is a type of exercise which involves various types of exercises, with and without equipment, designed to improve both cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength endurance, as well as improving balance, coordination and movement competency. Circuit training may be a fun, cost and time effective method of exercising and can be administered to large groups of children at the same time. As well as physical benefits, CT may also enhance motor control and fundamental movement abilities if designed appropriately. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a school‐based, CT programme on the health, fitness, physical activity levels, and movement competency in young children.
A randomised control trial involving a total of 35 children (17 boys and 18 girls) with a mean age of 9.9 ± 0.7 years was completed. The intervention group was comprised of 10 girls, and 7 boys; while the control group included 9 girls and 8 boys. A range of anthropometric, fitness, and metabolic assessments were determined at baseline prior to commencing the training intervention. The children attended 3 x 30‐40 min supervised CT sessions per week, for seven weeks, during school time. The CT programme was specifically designed to provide variation and stimulation in order to maximally engage children and to ensure adherence and enjoyment, whilst aiming to promote positive changes in health, fitness and movement competency.
The groups were matched in terms of physical and movement abilities pre‐intervention. For anthropometric measures, the CT programme resulted in no pre‐post changes in any group. Significant improvements in strength, power and aerobic fitness existed in the intervention group, but differences were not greater than the control group. Significant improvements were observed for movement competency after CT, and these improvements were significantly greater than those of the control group.
In conclusion, a school‐based CT programme had beneficial effects on a range of fitness measures. However, in the short term, it offered limited additional physical benefit over those activities typically gained from standard school physical activity for normal‐weight children. The long term benefits of CT as a health promoting tool for prevention of undesirable weight‐gain are unknown. The substantial improvement of movement abilities of children after CT was a positive finding. These movement skills will likely be transferred to other aspects of their lives, ensuring good general posture, and effective movement in a variety of physical activities, sports and game play. For these reasons, and given its low cost and suitability for large groups, CT may be a useful exercise method to adopt in schools.
Purpose
The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a school‐based, circuit trainin programme on the health, fitness and movement competency of young New Zealand children.
Methodology
The study was a randomised controlled trial designed to assess the effect of a 7‐week circuit training programme in young children. All year 5 and 6 students at a local school (n=120) were invited to participate and 35 volunteered. A range of anthropometric, fitness and metabolic variables were determined at baseline prior to commencing the training intervention. At the conclusion of the intervention the same measures were assessed.