Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
A Real-World High-Intensity Interval Training Protocol for Cardiorespiratory Fitness Improvement
Published on: February 22, 2022
Experiences from a randomised, controlled trial on cycling to school: does cycling increase cardiorespiratory
Line A B Børrestad1, Lars Ostergaard, Lars B Andersen
1Institute of Public Health, Sport and Nutrition, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway. line.borrestad@uia.no
Aims:
The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of a 12-week randomised controlled cycling-to-school trial on cardiorespiratory fitness.
Methods:
A total of 53 10- to 13-year-old children from one public school were included. The children were randomised into either a cycling group or a control group. The cycling group was encouraged to cycle to and from school each day during a period of 12 weeks. Peak oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)) and anthropometrical data (weight and height) were measured at baseline and at the end of the 12-week period.
Results:
No significant differences were observed in VO(2peak) change over the 12-week period between the cycling group and the control group (49.7 ml O(2)/min/kg vs. 50.6 ml O(2) /min/kg; effect size=-0.13, F=0.495, p=0.486). Within the intervention group, 69.2% (95% CI 50.1-88.2) started cycling, and within the control group 40.8% (95% CI 20.9-60.5) started cycling. Given that several children in both groups (intervention and control) started cycling to school, re-analyses were conducted between those starting cycling and those not starting cycling. At follow up, a significant difference between those starting cycling and those who did not starting cycling was observed in VO(2peak) (51.7 ml O(2)/min/kg vs. 47.9 ml O(2)/min/kg; effect size=0.49, F=8.145, p=0.007), after adjustment for baseline scores, gender and age.
Conclusions:
This study indicates that cycling to school improves cardiorespiratory fitness.
More Related Videos
07:40Impact of High-intensity Interval Exercise and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise on the Cardiac Troponin T Level at an Early Stage of Training
Published on: October 10, 2019
06:13Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults
Published on: December 1, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:12What is an Experiment?