A feasibility test of the Systematic Terraced Exercise Protocol in fourth grade children

Purpose. The study purpose was to evaluate the feasibility of a 10,000 steps-a-day program modified for school-based implementation in a sample of prepubescent children.; Method. This was a quasi-experimental feasibility test of the Systematic Terraced Exercise Protocol (STEP) intervention, modified from the 10,000 steps-a-day program developed for use with adults by the American Dietetic Association (Lindberg, 2000). A pre-test - post-test design with quantitative and qualitative measures was used. Phase One was quantitative and consisted of two levels. Phase One - Level One involved collecting baseline and post-intervention demographic, anthropometric and physical data from participants. Phase One - Level Two involved cardiorespiratory fitness testing of a randomly selected sub-sample. Performance testing consisted of administering three elements from the President's Council on Physical Fitness Test. Phase Two was qualitative and consisted of two focus groups, of teachers and participants, and a survey of participants' parents.; Findings. Paired t-test analysis of pre- versus post-intervention data showed changes in waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference, and steps-a-day from baseline to post-intervention was significant (p < .05). Performance testing showed improvement in endurance and upper body strength; however, no change was noted in participant flexibility. Statistical comparisons were not possible due to the small sample size. Focus group and survey data indicated children, teachers, and parents perceived the intervention as feasible and overall expressed satisfaction with STEP.; Discussion. This study was unique in that 10,000 steps-a-day programs have been used in adults with great success to lower weight, percentage of body fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and to increase baseline steps-a-day. However, it has never been implemented with elementary-aged children. Outcomes suggest this intervention may be feasible for enhancing physical activity in fourth grade children. Future research should replicate this study with a larger randomly selected sample being more ethnically and culturally diverse. The number and type of outcome variables should be reconsidered. Data from focus groups indicate the need to revise the nature and timing of incentives and the need for use of a different pedometer model. Future research should evaluate alternative methods for recruitment and retention of males and the applicability of this intervention for males.