Author(s)

Tomás Reyes-Amigo^1,2,3*, Antonio Palmeira^4,5, Clarice Martins^2,6,7, Hernaldo Carrasco-Beltrán⁸, Mabel Gomez-Mazorra⁹, Johana Soto-Sanchez^10,11, Jessica Ibarra-Mora¹², Jorge Mota^2,6

¹Department of Physical Activity Sciences, University of Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile.
²Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
³Research Laboratory in Physical Activity and Sport (LIAFD), University of Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile.
⁴Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Human Performance, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
⁵Centre of Research in Sport, Physical Education, Exercise and Health, Lusofona University, Lisbon, Portugal.
⁶Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
⁷Department of Physical Education, University Federal da Paraíba, Paraíba, Brasil.
⁸Department of Physical Activity Sciences, Centre for Advanced Studies, University of Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile.
⁹Department of Psychopedagogy, University of Tolima, Tolima, Colombia.
¹⁰Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.
¹¹Research Centre in Sports Medicine, Exercise and Health, Santiago, Chile.
¹²Department of Physical Education, Sports and Recreation, University Metropolitan of Educational Sciences, Santiago, Chile.

Background: Several studies have reported significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in children with high-intensity exercise. However, most research protocols focus on cycling and running. These protocols are not applicable for practical purposes in children. Objective: This study aims to assess the effect of an 11-week intervention using games protocols of two different intensities (high-intensity games and moderate-intensity games) on CRF and anthropometric variables in children. Methods: The participants included 48 schoolchildren aged between 9 to 10 years (9.48 ± 0.5 years). Children were randomized into two groups: high-intensity games (HIG) or moderate-intensity games (MIG). HIG group used relays race and small-sided games; >75% of maximum heart rate (HR_max). MIG group used cooperative and dynamics continued games; 60% - 74% HR_max. Both groups had two sessions per week for 11 weeks during physical education classes (PE). Before and after the interventions, participants completed the CRF test (20-meter shuttle run test) and measurements of anthropometric variables were taken: Body mass index (BMI), Body mass index Z-Score (BMI z-score), Waist circumference (WC), Body fat percentage (BF%) and Sum of skinfolds. Results: A significant time × group interaction was observed for CRF (F = 4.879, P = 0.032; ES = 0.6), between HIG and MIG. There were no significant differences time interaction between treatment groups for BMI (F = 1.158, P = 0.288), BMI z-score (F = 2.911, P = 0.095), BF% (F = 0.270, P = 0.606) and Sum of skinfolds (F = 1.481, P = 0.230). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that an 11-week HIG program, applied during PE classes, is more effective than MIG in the improvement of the CRF in children.

High-Intensity Games, Children, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Anthropometric Variables, Physical Education

Reyes-Amigo, T. , Palmeira, A. , Martins, C. , Carrasco-Beltrán, H. , Gomez-Mazorra, M. , Soto-Sanchez, J. , Ibarra-Mora, J. and Mota, J. (2022) Effectiveness of High-Intensity Games versus Moderate-Intensity Games on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Anthropometric Variables in Children. Advances in Physical Education, 12, 60-74. doi: 10.4236/ape.2022.121005.