School-Based Physical Education Program and Its Effects on Motor Fitness in Malaysian Children

NCT ID: NCT06834620

Last Updated: 2025-02-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 80 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2015-02-14
• Study Completion Date: 2016-02-14

Brief Summary

The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the effects of a standard school physical education program (SPEP) and a rhythmic and gymnastic activities-based school physical education program (RGPEP) on the physical and motor fitness parameters of Malaysian primary school children.

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the impact of two distinct physical education programs on the physical and motor fitness of Malaysian primary school children. The intervention group participates in a rhythmic and gymnastic activities-based physical education program (RGPEP), designed to enhance balance, coordination, flexibility, and agility through structured, progressive activities. The control group follows the standard school physical education program (SPEP) in line with the national curriculum, which emphasizes general fitness and physical activity without specific rhythmic or gymnastic components.

Conditions

Physical Fitness; Child Development; Exercise Intervention; Childhood Obesity; Physical Inactivity in Children

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Rhythmic and Gymnastics-Based Exercise Group

Participants in this arm received 80 sessions of a Rhythmic and Gymnastics-Based Physical Education Program (RGPEP) over an academic year. The program focused on rhythmic skills, gymnastics patterns, and movement-based activities designed to enhance motor and physical fitness.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Rhythmic and Gymnastic Activities-Based School Physical Education Program

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

A structured, year-long school-based physical education program integrating rhythmic movements, gymnastics, and small equipment exercises designed to enhance motor and physical fitness. The program included 80 sessions (two per week) focusing on rhythmic activities such as twisting, partner balance, animal walks, tumbling, and rope exercises. The intervention aimed to improve strength, flexibility, agility, and cardiovascular endurance compared to traditional physical education classes.

Control group

Participants in this arm followed the standard Malaysian school physical education curriculum, which included 60 minutes of physical education and 30 minutes of health education per week, as prescribed by the Malaysian Ministry of Education.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Rhythmic and Gymnastic Activities-Based School Physical Education Program

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

A structured, year-long school-based physical education program integrating rhythmic movements, gymnastics, and small equipment exercises designed to enhance motor and physical fitness. The program included 80 sessions (two per week) focusing on rhythmic activities such as twisting, partner balance, animal walks, tumbling, and rope exercises. The intervention aimed to improve strength, flexibility, agility, and cardiovascular endurance compared to traditional physical education classes.

Interventions

Rhythmic and Gymnastic Activities-Based School Physical Education Program

A structured, year-long school-based physical education program integrating rhythmic movements, gymnastics, and small equipment exercises designed to enhance motor and physical fitness. The program included 80 sessions (two per week) focusing on rhythmic activities such as twisting, partner balance, animal walks, tumbling, and rope exercises. The intervention aimed to improve strength, flexibility, agility, and cardiovascular endurance compared to traditional physical education classes.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Children aged 8 years at the time of enrollment.
• Both boys and girls.
• Regular school attendance during the academic year.
• No diagnosed health conditions or chronic diseases that could interfere with physical activity.
• Not involved in extracurricular sports activities outside the school environment.
• Not engaged in extra traveling to and from school on foot or by bicycle.
• Parents or legal guardians provided written informed consent.
• The child provided verbal assent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

• Children missing more than 20% of scheduled physical education classes.
• Overweight children with a BMI ≥ 23 kg/m².
• Underweight children with a BMI < 18.5 kg/m².
• Children involved in regular sports training or participation in extracurricular sports activities during the intervention period.
• Children with any pre-existing medical conditions or injuries that could limit participation in physical activities.
• Children with developmental or motor impairments affecting their ability to perform the required fitness activities.
• Children on any medication that could interfere with their performance or physical fitness evaluation.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 8 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 8 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Hellenic Naval Academy

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Gerasimos Grivas

Lecturer in Exercise Physiology, Hellenic Naval Academy

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Other Identifiers

PNURSP2025R424

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

Hellenic Naval Academy

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id