Scheduled for Measurement Symposium: Objective Measurement of Physical Activity in Physical Education, Tuesday, April 25, 2006, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Convention Center: 150DEF


Grade School Physical Education Physical Activity: Measurement via Pedometry

Philip W. Scruggs, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI

Physical education (PE) has been recommended as an institution whereby youth should develop lifelong physical activity (PA) behaviors, and engage in PA for a significant portion of PE (COPEC, 2004; CDC, 1997). However, the lack of a practical PA assessment tool for use in PE has hindered PA surveillance efforts. Pedometry has been found to be a valid and practical PA assessment tool. Research has been undertaken to determine if pedometer output, steps/min, can accurately quantify PA in PE. The specific research question of inquiry asks: What step/min value accurately quantifies a recommended percent of time engaged in PA? Scruggs et al. (2003) studied 369 1st-2nd graders and found that a step/min interval of 60-63 was an accurate indicator of 33% of the PE time engaged in PA. Scruggs et al. (2005) further cross-validated the original 1st-2nd grade results (N=126), and established a step/min interval for 3rd-4th graders (N=131). The original 1st-2nd grade results were found to be accurate, as a step/min interval of 61-63 was the most accurate indicator of students engaging in PA for 33% of the PE time. Similar results were found for the 3rd-4th grade sample, as a step/min interval of 58-61 was the most accurate indicator of 33% of the PE time engaged in PA. Scruggs (2005) studied a sample of 149 5th-6th graders, and 180 7th-8th graders. A step/min interval of 56-60 was found to be an accurate indicator of 5th-6th grade students who engaged in PA for 33% of the PE time. For 7th-8th graders a step/min interval of 85-87 was an accurate indicator of 50% of the PE time engaged in PA. In order to examine the influence of potential predictors (i.e., gender, stature, body mass, BMI, lesson time) on step/min recommendations, data were combined from the 1st-8th grade samples. Potential predictors did not significantly contribute to the model equations. A more likely influence on step/min outcomes would be the brand of pedometer. Scruggs (2005) compared the Yamax SW-701 and Walk4Life 2505 pedometers under lab and PE conditions (i.e., 5th-8th grade, N=231). A significant step/min difference was not found in the lab, but a significant step/min mean difference of 7.81±5.36 was found in PE. The pedometer accurately quantifies PA in PE, thus providing a PA surveillance tool for PE. However, if valid conclusions are to be drawn from PE step/min surveillance data, then PE step/min surveillance must be standardized for valid conclusions.
Keyword(s): exercise/fitness, measurement/evaluation, physical activity

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