Feasibility of breaking up sitting time in mainstream and special schools with a cognitively challenging motor task

作     者：Emiliano Mazzoli Harriet Koorts Jo Salmon Caterina Pesce Tamara May Wei-Peng Teo Lisa Michele Barnett 

作者机构：School of Health and Social Development Faculty of Health Deakin University Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition Faculty of Health Deakin University Department of Movement Human and Health Sciences Italian University of Sport and Movement "Foro Italico" School of Psychology Faculty of Health Deakin University 

出 版 物：《Journal of Sport and Health Science》 (运动与健康科学（英文）)

年 卷 期：2019年第8卷第2期

页      面：137-148页

核心收录：

学科分类：0403[教育学-体育学] 04[教育学] 1002[医学-临床医学] 1010[医学-医学技术（可授医学、理学学位）] 

基　　金：supported by the Victorian Government - Department of Education and Training 

主　　题：Active breaks Classroom Cognition Physical activity Sedentary behavior 

摘      要：Background: Children spend 70% of the school day sitting in class. Classroom-based active breaks can benefit children s physical health, but if the breaks are cognitively demanding(i.e., combine physical exertion and mental engagement), they may also improve focus and cognitive functions. Teachers and students play a crucial role in the successful implementation of active breaks, and their perspectives are critical to the feasibility of these strategies. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of implementing a cognitively challenging motor task as an active break in mainstream and special primary ***: A total of 5 teachers in 2 mainstream schools and 7 teachers in 1 special school(attended by children with neurodevelopmental disorders) attended a 20-min training on how to implement a 4-min cognitively challenging active break, before conducting a feasibility trial(twice a day for 1 week). To understand individual perceptions, one-on-one semistructured interviews were conducted before and after the trial with teachers, and focus group interviews were conducted with typically developing children after the trial. Questions were based on a predefined framework for feasibility studies. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analyzed in NVivo 11 using a framework approach. A total of 12 teachers(11 females; 7 between 20 and 34 years old) and 34 children(16 girls; 9.3 § 1.7 years, mean § SD) participated in the ***: In mainstream schools, teachers viewed the cognitively challenging motor task as appropriate and potentially beneficial for children s health and focus. Children reported enjoying the active breaks. Teachers in special schools viewed the task as complex and potentially frustrating for children. In both school types, children s disruptive behavior and lack of time were seen as the main potential barriers to implementation. The use of music, videos, visual cards, and support staff were noted as potential facili