Using heart-rate feedback to increase physical activity in children
Abstract
Objective The objective of this study was to test whether heart-rate feedback prompts increased physical activity (PA) in primary school students.Methods A controlled trial with 210 9-11 year olds from subsidized Hong Kong Government primary schools was completed in December 2006. Schools were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Control (CG); Educational program (EG); No-educational program (NEG).Intervention In a short-term school-based intervention, heart-rate feedback was given either in combination with an educational program (EG) or in isolation (NEG). Long-term retention was assessed in comparison to the control group after 6 months follow-up.Main outcome measures Physical activity and changes in attraction to PA.Results In the short-term, heart-rate monitor feedback increased total daily PA by an average of 24% (p<0.001) and vigorous PA by 0.6% (p<0.05). No change was found for moderate PA. Increases occurred regardless of involvement in the educational program, and in the absence of any change in attitudes towards PA. No long-term retention was apparent.Conclusions The findings from the study suggest that feedback from heart-rate monitors encourages low intensity PA, but when removed increases do not persist.
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Heart rate feedback has been shown to increase overall daily activity and percentage of time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity.
“In addition, heart rate feedback has been shown to increase overall daily activity and percentage of time spent in MVPA [23].”
From Estimating Accuracy at Exercise Intensities: A Comparative Study of Self-Monitoring Heart Rate and Physical Activity Wearable Devices (2017) · cites this paper as [23]
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Physical ACtivity monitorinG devices
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- Authors
- McManus, A. M., Masters, R. S. W., Laukkanen, R. M. T., Yu, C. C. W., Sit, C. H. P., & Ling, F. C. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Polar (Finland) (FI)
- Corresponding author
- McManus, Alison M.
- Venue
- Preventive Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-10
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 402-408
- ISSN
- 0091-7435 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2028561330
- Cited by
- 49
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- The HKU Scholars Hub (University of Hong Kong) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Hong Kong
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Physical Education and Pedagogy
- Keywords
- heart rate feedback, physical activity, children, elementary school students, heart rate monitors, school-based intervention, educational programs, high-intensity exercise, moderate physical activity, retention, attitudes toward physical activity
- MeSH terms
- Child, Curriculum, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Education, Heart Rate, Hong Kong, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, School Health Services, Health Behavior, Exercise, Treatment Outcome, Feedback, Psychological
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