An 8-week exergame-based exercise training program improves cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance performances among primary school children in Taiwan

Chi-Fang Lin^1,2,3Po-Fu Lee^4,5Yan-Jhu Su⁶I Tung Lin⁷Hsiao-Fang Kao³Yi-Chuan Hung^2,8,9Mei-Ling Chao¹⁰Chien-Chang Ho^11,12*

• ¹Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei City, Taiwan
• ²Office of Physical Education, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
• ³Department of Sports Management, Minghsin University of Science and Technology, Hsinchu county, Taiwan
• ⁴Department of Leisure Industry and Health Promotion, National Ilan University, Yilan county, Taiwan
• ⁵College of Humanities and Management, National Ilan University, Yilan county, Taiwan
• ⁶Department of Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, United States
• ⁷College of General Education, Chihlee University of Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
• ⁸Department of Sport Management, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung City, Taiwan
• ⁹Sports Administration, Ministry of Education, Taipei City, Taiwan
• ¹⁰Department of Nursing, Mei-Ho University, Pingtung County, Taiwan
• ¹¹Department of Physical Education, College of Education, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan
• ¹²Sports Medicine Center, Fu Jen Catholic Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of an 8-week exergame-based exercise training program on health-related physical fitness performances among primary school children in Taiwan.Materials and methods: The study employed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, recruiting 68 elementary school children with an average age of 10.76 ± 0.49 years. Participants were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 35) and a control group (n = 33). The experimental group completed an 8-week exergame-based exercise training program, performed three times per week. Each session consisted of three one-minute rounds. In contrast, the control group did not undergo any training and continued their usual daily activities. Data collection included demographic surveys, anthropometric assessments, and health-related physical fitness evaluations conducted at baseline (Week 0) and after the intervention (week 8).Results: After the 8-week exergame-based exercise training program, the results indicated that compared to the control group, the experimental group significantly reduced their 800-m run time (β = -21.771, p = 0.005 [enhanced cardiovascular endurance]) and increased their performance in bent-leg sit-ups (β = 4.036, p = 0.021 [muscular strength and endurance]) after adjusting for age, gender, and other health-related physical fitness indicators.Conclusion: This suggests that 8-week exergame-based exercise training program can be a fun exercise alternative for improving cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance performances among primary school children in Taiwan.