Johnstone, A. , Hughes, A., Martin, A. and Reilly, J. (2018) Utilising active play interventions to promote physical activity and improve fundamental movement skills in children. BMC Public Health, 18, 789. (doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5687-z) (PMID:29940923) (PMCID:PMC6019649)
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Abstract
Background: Children’s physical activity levels are low and efforts to improve their physical activity levels have proven difficult. Freely chosen and unstructured physical activity (active play) has the potential to be promoted in a variety of settings and potentially every day of the year in contrast to other physical activity domains, but active play interventions are an under-researched area. Therefore, the primary aim of this systematic review was to determine the effect of active play interventions on children’s physical activity levels, particularly moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), and fundamental movement skills (FMS). Methods: Studies were included if they were solely or predominantly active play randomised, or cluster randomised controlled trials that targeted children aged 3–12 years. They had to report on at least one of the following outcomes: objectively measured physical activity, FMS, cognition and weight status. During December 2016, four databases (PE Index, SPORTDiscus, Medline and ERIC) were searched for relevant titles. Duplicates and irrelevant titles and abstracts were removed. The included studies had their quality assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool. Suitable studies were combined in a meta-analysis using a random-effect model. A narrative synthesis was conducted for all outcomes. Results: Of the 4033 records, 91 studies were eligible for full text screening, of which 87 were removed, leaving four studies (representing five papers). The meta-analysis of two studies highlighted there was no significant effect of active play interventions on MVPA. However, the narrative synthesis suggested that active play interventions may increase total volume of physical activity. Only two studies examined the effect of active play interventions on children’s FMS, one study examined effects on weight status and none examined effects on cognition. Conclusions: Due to the small number of eligible studies and their heterogeneity, the review could not draw firm conclusions on the effect of active play interventions on children’s physical activity levels. High-quality active play interventions, targeting different times of the day (school and after school) in different populations and settings, and with a wider range of outcomes, are required to determine the potential of active play.
| Item Type: | Articles |
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| Additional Information: | This work was supported by Inspiring Scotland; 502 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, EH11 3AF (www.inspiringscotland.org.uk) through a PhD studentship for the lead author. The funders were not involved in any aspect of the research. AM was supported by the UK Medical Research Council (grant number MC_UU_12017/14) and the Chief Scientist Office (grant number SPHSU14). |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Martin, Dr Anne and Johnstone, Dr Avril |
| Authors: | Johnstone, A., Hughes, A., Martin, A., and Reilly, J. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU |
| Journal Name: | BMC Public Health |
| Publisher: | BioMed Central |
| ISSN: | 1471-2458 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1471-2458 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2018 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in BMC Public Health 18:789 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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