Impact of Aerobic Activity on Reaction Time in School-Going Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To determine whether reaction time (RT) was immediately influenced by aerobic activity in the form of running in school-aged children. 208 participants, aged 6–12 years, were included in the study after excluding missed follow-up participants which was documented as 6 participants. They were divided into 2 groups, namely the experimental (n=102) and the control group (n=106) using the block randomization method. Afterward, the RT was determined through visual stimuli, via a ruler drop test (RDT). The participants from the experimental group underwent a 20-meter shuttle run test (20-m SRT) whereas the participants of the control group were assigned no task. Each participant's total RDT duration was documented before, immediately following and after 30 seconds of intervention.The obtained results show that there was a statistically significant difference in the value of the RT of children who performed the 20-meter shuttle run test and those who were sitting (p=<0.001 for both groups), While there was no statistically significant difference in RT between children in the two groups for comparisons between prior to and immediately after the intervention (mean= 0.25±0.49 and p=0.30), soon after the intervention and after 30 seconds (mean= 0.28±0.43 and p=0.46), and between before and right soon after 30 seconds of the intervention (mean= 0.53±0.46 and p=0.10), respectively keeping <0.05 as statistically significant. According to the findings of the current investigation, there was no discernible immediate distinction between the RT of individuals who underwent a 20-meter shuttle run test and those who were at rest throughout the intervention period.