Background/Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the physical activity levels in students enrolled in an online walk/jog class compared to a traditional face-to-face walk/jog class. Differences in voluntary exercise intensity and duration between the two delivery modes were examined as they specifically related to (1) fulfilling the course requirements, and (2) total physical activity accumulation over a 7-day period.
Method
Forty-three college students [mean age: 24.7 ± 8.2 years; height: 65.7 ± 3.5 in; weight: 73.5 ± 17 kg] enrolled in a walk for fitness or jog for fitness class at the university level volunteered for the study. Based on their enrollment status, subjects were placed into an online group (n=18) or an on-campus group (n=25). All subjects wore the ActiTrainer accelerometer for a seven-day period to quantify physical activity levels.
Analysis/Results
There were no significant differences between groups in the purposeful accumulation of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) to meet the requirements of the class or the physical activity accrued for the 7-day period. Not surprisingly, both groups got significantly more physical activity on class days. However, there was a significant difference between the two groups (F(41)=,p=0.034) in the total amount of MVPA they achieved on a class day, where face-to-face (173.4 ± 80.5 minutes) recorded approximately 59 minutes more MVPA time than online (114.5 ± 94.5).
Conclusions
While the face-to-face group achieved more MVPA on class days than the online group, the MVPA achieved during the class was not significantly different between the groups.