Characterisation of the mechanical loads and metabolic intensity of the CAPO kids exercise intervention for healthy primary school children

Sedentarism is associated with obesity and other chronic diseas-es at all ages. increasing physical activity with in-school inter-ventions,focusing on energy expenditure and bone loading reduces risk of a number of costly chronic diseases. the aim of the current study was to characterise the metabolic and musculo-skeletal load intensity of the recent successful capo kids exercise intervention. pre and early pubertal children (10.4 ± 0.5 years old) from the capo kids trial wore an armband sensor to estimate energy expenditure during a 10-minute capo kids session. eleven participants performed manoeuvres from the session on a force platform to determine vertical ground reaction forces. in total,28 boys and 20 girls had armband measures and 11 boys and girls undertook grf testing. the energy expendi-ture associated with the 10-minute session was 39.7 ± 9.3 kcal,with an average of 4 kcal∙min-1. the intensity of physical activi-ty was ‘vigorous’ to ‘very vigorous’ for 34% of the session. vertical ground reaction forces of the capo kids manoeuvres ranged from 1.3 ± 0.2 bw (cartwheels) to 5.4 ± 2.3 bw (360° jump). capo kids generates adequate load intensity to stimu-late positive health adaptations in both metabolic and musculo-skeletal systems of pre and early pubertal children. © journal of sports science and medicine.