ArticleBMC public health2017
Effect of major school playground reconstruction on physical activity and sedentary behaviour: Camden active spaces.
Article in BMC public health, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- How can physical enrichment of school playgrounds improve movement behaviours and developmental outcomes in children and adolescents? A systematic review with meta-analysis.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2025Pooled it
- The Effectiveness of School-Based Physical Activity Promotion on Mental Health Among Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports · 2025Pooled it
- The Effects of Playground Interventions on Accelerometer-Assessed Physical Activity in Pediatric Populations: A Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- The Impact of Schoolyard Greening on Children's Physical Activity and Socioemotional Health: A Systematic Review of Experimental Studies.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Pooled it
- Physical activity and sedentary time of youth in structured settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2020Pooled it
- Interventions to Change School Recess Activity Levels in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2020Pooled it
- Recess as a Setting for Child Development: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Physical Activity, Motor Skills and Social-Emotional Functioning.The Journal of school health · 2026Trial
- Recess and after-hours behavior patterns associated with community schoolyard transformations.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2026Article
- "We just have to work with what we've got": a qualitative analysis of contextual challenges in facilities and resources for pupil physical activity in English primary schools.BMC public health · 2025Article
- The role of playgrounds in promoting children's health - a scoping review.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2024Article
- Physical activity interventions in European primary schools: a scoping review to create a framework for the design of tailored interventions in European countries.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Association of Playground "Playability" With Physical Activity and Energy Expenditure.Preventing chronic disease · 2023Article
- Resilience and Equity in a Time of Crises: Investing in Public Urban Greenspace Is Now More Essential Than Ever in the US and Beyond.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Did Playground Renovations Equitably Benefit Neighborhoods in Chicago?Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine · 2021Article
- Positive Externalities of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation for Human Health: A Review and Conceptual Framework for Public Health Research.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Review
- School-Based Multicomponent Intervention to Promote Physical Activity and Reduce Sedentary Time of Disadvantaged Children Aged 6-10 Years: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2020Article
- Article
- A retrospective qualitative evaluation of barriers and facilitators to the implementation of a school-based running programme.BMC public health · 2018Article
- Impacts of active school design on school-time sedentary behavior and physical activity: A pilot natural experiment.PloS one · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe physical school environment is a promising setting to increase children's physical activity although robust evidence is sparse. We examined the effects of major playground reconstruction on physical activity and sedentary time in primary schools using a quasi-experimental design (comparison group pre-test/post-test design).
methodsFive experimental and two control schools from deprived areas of inner city London were recruited at baseline. Main outcome was physical activity and sedentary time measured from objective monitoring (Actigraph accelerometer) at one year follow up. Pupils' impressions of the new playground were qualitatively assessed post construction.
resultsA total of 347 pupils (mean age = 8 years, 55% boys; 36% Caucasian) were recruited into the study at baseline; 303 provided valid baseline Actigraph data. Of those, 231 (76%) completed follow-up (n = 169 intervention; n = 62 control) and 77.4% of the sample recorded at least 4 days of Actigraph wear. In mixed models adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, ratio activity or sedentary/wear time at baseline, wear time at follow up, and school, no differences were observed in total moderate - vigorous activity (B = -1.4, 95% CI, -7.1, 4.2 min/d), light activity (B = 4.1, 95% CI, -17.9, 26.1), or sedentary time (B = -3.8, 95% CI, -29.2, 21.6 min/d) between groups. There were significant age interactions for sedentary (p = 0.002) and light intensity physical activity (p = 0.008). We observed significant reductions in total sedentary (-28.0, 95% CI, -1.9, -54.1 min/d, p = 0.037) and increases in total light intensity activity (24.6, 95% CI, 0.3, 48.9 min/d, p = 0.047) for children aged under 9 yrs. old in the intervention.
conclusionMajor playground reconstruction had limited effects on physical activity, but reduced sedentary time was observed in younger children. Qualitative data suggested that the children enjoyed the new playgrounds and experienced a perceived positive change in well-being and social interactions.
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