Effects of short physical activity sessions on physical fitness and cognitive control in Norwegian upper secondary...

The MOVE12 pilot study investigated the effects of integrating brief, student-led physical activity sessions on fitness and cognitive control in Norwegian upper secondary school students. The MOVE-break concept integrates strength, endurance, and playful activities into classroom settings to counteract sedentary behavior.

This 12-week cluster-randomized controlled trial enrolled 517 first-year students from academic and vocational programs. Classes were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. The intervention group was encouraged to conduct two daily Move-breaks sessions, each lasting 6-7 min, during classroom instruction. Physical fitness was assessed through aerobic fitness, muscular strength, flexibility, and postural control tests. Cognitive control was evaluated using the Eriksen Flanker and Stroop tasks.

No significant between-group differences were observed in aerobic fitness, muscular strength, flexibility, or postural control over the intervention period. However, within-group improvements were detected in the intervention group for handgrip strength and standing long jump performance. Notably, despite differences in exercise intensity between students in academic and vocational programs, both groups showed significant improvements in cognitive control.

These findings highlight the potential of brief, student-led physical activity sessions to enhance cognitive control in adolescents, irrespective of educational program or intensity levels. While no substantial improvements in physical fitness were observed, the cognitive benefits highlight the potential of integrating structured movement sessions into the school day. Further research should explore optimized intervention strategies and long-term effects on both cognitive and physical health outcomes.

ISRCTN, ISRCTN10405415. Registered 14/12/2023, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10405415 .