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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012 May;40(3):245-52.
doi: 10.1177/1403494812443606.

Experiences from a randomised, controlled trial on cycling to school: does cycling increase cardiorespiratory fitness?

Line A B Børrestad  1 , Lars Ostergaard, Lars B Andersen, Elling Bere
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Experiences from a randomised, controlled trial on cycling to school: does cycling increase cardiorespiratory fitness?

Line A B Børrestad et al. Scand J Public Health. 2012 May.

Abstract

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.

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