Feasibility and Provisional Efficacy of Embedding High-Intensity Interval Training Into Physical Education Lessons: A Pilot Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of generalist school teachers delivering curriculum connected high-intensity interval training in a school’s physical education class time. Method: Two schools volunteered to participate. A total of 84 students (11.9 [0.5] y, M = 64 and F = 19) volunteered to participate. Four classes from 2 schools were randomized to either intervention (n = 53) or control (n = 31) for one school term (8 wk). Intervention class teachers participated in a 1-day workshop instructing them how to deliver twice weekly, high-intensity interval training sessions. The control classes continued with their usual physical education curriculum. Recruitment, intervention fidelity, and program satisfaction were assessed. Preliminary efficacy (primary outcome cardiorespiratory fitness) was quantified using generalized linear mixed models, expressed as effect size. A range of secondary outcomes was also assessed. Results: The recruitment rate was 88%. About 84% of the sessions were delivered. The heart rate peak over all sessions was 89.6% (13%) of the predicted maximum. The intervention teachers reported high levels of satisfaction. Almost all student participants were positive about participating. No adverse events occurred. The adjusted between-group difference for cardiorespiratory fitness was trivial (effect size 0.02). Conclusions: This teacher-delivered high-intensity interval training program was feasible and acceptable to both teachers and student participants. It is therefore potentially scalable.

Scaling-Up Adolescent High-Intensity Interval Training Programs for Population Health

“…However, almost 70% of students reported their intention to participate HIIT in the future and improvements in HIIT self-efficacy were sustained at 12 months. In this section, we also discuss other school-and sport-based HIIT programs that have potential for scale-up (20,(45)(46)(47). These programs were selected because they address some of the considerations outlined in our conceptual model.…”

“…The school-and sport-based HIIT programs were delivered by members of the team (46,47) or teachers (20,45). For school-based programs, the use of teachers represents a scalable and sustainable option.…”

“…The use of external providers to deliver programs in schools may represent an expedient option for busy teachers, but it also requires ongoing funding, and tenuous alignment to the curriculum may result in disenfranchisement among teachers. Teachers in the Fit to Study (45) and Pau te Hau (20) studies were provided with training to deliver their HIIT programs using teaching principles informed by Self-Determination Theory. In Pau te Hau , teachers were introduced to the SAAFE delivery principles in their professional learning workshop, and specific links between the HIIT sessions and curricula activity were identified.…”

Application of Decision Tree in PE Teaching Analysis and Management under the Background of Big Data

“…is gap has led to a signi cant decline in some students' performance, and the performance prediction system has become the main means to prevent and solve this problem [4,5]. However, due to the in uence of many factors on university students' academic performance, the shortage of manpower in the prediction system, and the in uence of human factors on the prediction results, the traditional comprehensive performance prediction strategy of university students has some problems such as low e ciency and poor prediction accuracy [6]. e teaching mode of PE teaching is very urgent and necessary and has a wide range of practical and guiding signi cance.…”

Impact of high‐intensity interval training including Indigenous narratives on adolescents’ mental health: a cluster‐randomised controlled trial

“…High‐intensity interval training (HIIT) is a form of vigorous physical activity with established efficacy for a range of health outcomes in adolescents 11 , 12 and potential for improving mental health in the general population, but the extent to which these effects are greater than other forms of PA remain unclear, 13 including in adolescents 14 . Given the feasibility 15 , 16 of delivering HIIT in schools, investigation of its effects on mental health warrants research.…”