A 3-year school-based exercise intervention improves muscle strength - a prospective controlled population-based study in 223 children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intense physical activity (PA) improves muscle strength in children, but it remains uncertain whether moderately intense PA in a population-based cohort of children confers these benefits.

Methods

We included children aged 6-9 years in four schools where the intervention school increased the school curriculum of PA from 60 minutes/week to 40 minutes/school day while the control schools continued with 60 minutes/week for three years. We measured muscle strength, as isokinetic Peak Torque (PT) (Nm) of the knee flexors in the right leg at speeds of 60°/second and 180°/second, at baseline and at follow-up, in 47 girls and 76 boys in the intervention group and 46 girls and 54 boys in the control group and then calculated annual changes in muscle strength. Data are prov

SUBMITTER: Detter F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4223838 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature