Dept of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
J Phys Act Health. 2010 Jul;7(4):490-6. doi: 10.1123/jpah.7.4.490.
To investigate whether the number of permanent playground facilities in schools influences objectively measured physical activity.
Physical activity was measured using Actical accelerometers over 2 to 5 days in 417 children (5-12 years) from 7 schools. The number of permanent play facilities likely to encourage physical activity in individuals or groups of children (eg, adventure playgrounds, swings, trees, playground markings, courts, sandpits) were counted on 2 occasions in each school. The surface area of each playground (m(2)) was also measured.
The number of permanent play facilities in schools ranged from 14 to 35 and was positively associated with all measures of activity. For each additional play facility, average accelerometry counts were 3.8% (P < .001) higher at school and 2.7% (P < .001) higher overall. Each additional play facility was also associated with 2.3% (P = .001) or 4 minutes more moderate/vigorous activity during school hours and 3.4% (P < .001) more (9 minutes) over the course of the day. School playground area did not affect activity independent of the number of permanent play facilities. Findings were consistent across age and sex groups.
Increasing the number of permanent play facilities at schools may offer a cost-effective and sustainable option for increasing physical activity in young children.
研究学校内永久性游乐设施的数量是否会影响到儿童的身体活动水平。
在 7 所学校中，使用 Actical 加速度计对 417 名（5-12 岁）儿童进行了 2-5 天的身体活动测量。分别在两次对每所学校内可能鼓励个人或儿童群体进行身体活动的永久性游乐设施（如冒险游乐场、秋千、树木、游乐标记、球场、沙坑）的数量进行了计数。同时还测量了每个操场的表面积。
学校内永久性游乐设施的数量从 14 个到 35 个不等，与所有活动测量指标均呈正相关。每增加一个游乐设施，学校内的平均加速度计计数会增加 3.8%（P <.001），总体增加 2.7%（P <.001）。每增加一个游乐设施，在学校期间还会分别增加 2.3%（P =.001）或 4 分钟的中等到剧烈活动，全天增加 3.4%（P <.001）或 9 分钟。操场面积的增加并不能独立于永久性游乐设施的数量对活动产生影响。这些发现与年龄和性别群体均一致。
在学校增加永久性游乐设施的数量可能是一种增加幼儿身体活动水平的具有成本效益和可持续性的选择。
