Integrating Regular Exergaming Sessions in the ExerCube into a School Setting Increases Physical Fitness in Elementary School Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a school-based exergame intervention on anthropometric parameters and physical fitness. Fifty-eight students (10.4 +/- 0.8 years; 48% girls) were randomized into an intervention (IG) and a control (CG) group. Both groups participated in regular physical education classes during the three-month intervention period. The IG additionally received a 20-minute exergame intervention twice per week. At baseline and following the intervention period, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were assessed. Furthermore, a sprint test (ST), a countermovement jump test (CMJ), and a shuttle run test (SRT) were performed. Due to prescribed quarantine measures, only 34 students (18 IG; 16 CG) were included in the final analysis. A significant group-time interaction was determined in CMJ performance (p < 0.001; eta(2) = 0.403), with a significant increase (+2.6 +/- 2.4 cm; p < 0.001; eta(2) = 0.315) in the IG and a significant decrease (-2.0 +/- 3.1 cm; p = 0.009; eta(2) = 0.190) in the CG. Furthermore, ST performance significantly improved in the IG (-0.03 +/- 0.08 s; p = 0.012; eta(2) = 0.180) but not in the CG (0.13 +/- 0.16 s; p = 0.460; eta(2) = 0.017), revealing significant interaction effects (p = 0.02; eta(2) = 0.157). Significant group-time interaction was observed for the SRT (p = 0.046; eta(2) = 0.122), with a significant increase (+87.8 +/- 98.9 m; p = 0.028; eta(2) = 0.147) in the IG and no changes (-29.4 +/- 219.7 m; p = 0.485; eta(2) = 0.016) in the CG. Concerning BMI (p = 0.157; eta(2) = 0.063) and WHtR (p = 0.063; eta(2) = 0.114), no significant interaction effects were detected. School-based exergaming is a suitable tool to influence students' physical fitness positively.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a school-based exergame intervention on anthropometric parameters and physical fitness. The results indicate that a school-based exergame intervention has positive effects on students' physical health measures.