The Effects of Active-Break Exercises on Primary School Students’ Health-Related Physical Fitness

With declining levels of physical fitness among children, innovative approaches that engage youth through digital media are increasingly important. This study investigates the effect of active-break exercises on the physical fitness of primary school students. A total of 48 participants aged 10 to 12 years old (2.00 ± 0.83), equally divided into Active Break Exercise Group and Control Group, were assessed on health-related fitness components including step up, push up, sit up, and sit and reach tests. The Active Break Exercise Group engaged in structured exercise routines for 12 weeks that comprised of short exercises videos which was uploaded on YouTube focusing on enhancing the students’ health related physical fitness, while the control group did not participate in the intervention and continued their daily academic lessons as a form of baseline comparison. To evaluate participants’ health-related physical fitness, the Malaysian National Physical Fitness Standard Test (SEGAK) battery was administered. Descriptive analysis and paired sample t-test were conducted. Results showed that there were significant improvements on the Active Break Exercise Group (p < .001) in step up, push up, sit up, and sit and reach test with p value < .001, whereas the control group showed no significant changes in all fitness measures with p value > .005. These findings suggest that active break exercises can effectively enhance physical fitness in children and offer a promising, engaging alternative to conventional exercise programs. The study underscores the potential of integrating digital social platforms like Active-Break Exercises to promote physical activity and overall health in young populations.