Manville Moves: an Exercise Intervention for Behavioral Regulation Among Children With Behavioral Health Challenges (MM)

President and Fellows of Harvard College

Status: Completed

Conditions: Autistic Disorder; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Oppositional Defiant Disorder; Conduct Disorder; Mood Disorders; Anxiety Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Standard PE; Behavioral: Aerobic Exergaming PE Curriculum

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02766101

IRB14-2312

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to examine whether an exergaming, aerobic physical education (PE) curriculum is acceptable and elicits improvements in behavioral self-regulation and classroom functioning among children with behavioral health challenges attending a therapeutic day school. After following an approved consent/assent process, children attending the school were randomized by classroom to take part in either 7 weeks of the experimental PE curriculum, or 7 weeks of the standard PE curriculum; after a 10 week washout period, children then crossed over into the other arm.

Enrollment: 103 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 7 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Attending the Manville School at the time of study initiation

Exclusion criteria

• Medical exemption from physical education classes
• Parental opt out from physical education classes

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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103 participants in 2 patient groups

Aerobic Exergaming PE

Experimental group

Description:

Progressive aerobic curriculum utilizing virtual reality exergaming stationary bicycles. Classes held 2 times per week for 30-40 minutes, aerobic exercise beginning at 10 minutes at moderate to vigorous intensity and building to 20 minutes plus.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Aerobic Exergaming PE Curriculum

Standard PE

Active Comparator group

Description:

Traditional PE focused on gross motor skill and sports skill acquisition, and team building. Typically non-aerobic.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard PE