The effect of placebo on endurance capacity in normal weight children – a randomized trial
Abstract Background The aim of the study was to examine the influence of the placebo effect on the endurance capacity results in normal weight children. Methods Twenty-four pre-pubertal normal-weight children aged 6–13 years participated in the study. Subjects underwent anthropometric measurements (...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-019-1394-x |
| _version_ | 1819069949752115200 |
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| author | Shira Fanti-Oren Daphna Birenbaum-Carmeli Alon Eliakim Michal Pantanowitz Dan Nemet |
| author_facet | Shira Fanti-Oren Daphna Birenbaum-Carmeli Alon Eliakim Michal Pantanowitz Dan Nemet |
| author_sort | Shira Fanti-Oren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The aim of the study was to examine the influence of the placebo effect on the endurance capacity results in normal weight children. Methods Twenty-four pre-pubertal normal-weight children aged 6–13 years participated in the study. Subjects underwent anthropometric measurements (weight, height, BMI percentile, and fat percentage), a progressive treadmill exercise test to evaluate endurance capacity, and filled habitual activity questionnaire. The participants were examined twice, in a random order, with each child being compared to him/herself. Different types of information were provided regarding a water drink consumed prior to testing- standard information (water) vs. deliberate positive information (presumed energy drink, placebo). Results Following the placebo drink, children demonstrated significantly higher peak pulse (177.9 ± 13.6 vs. 189.8 ± 12.2 bpm), higher stage achieved and longer time of exercise to exhaustion (700.1 ± 155.2 vs. 893.3 ± 150.1 s). Although the exercise duration was longer, stage and heart rate achieved were higher, the reported average, and peak rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were significantly lower for the placebo (18.3 ± 1.4 vs 16.2 ± 1.5). Although the effort was higher while drinking placebo (longer run, higher exercise phase, higher heart rate), recovery time was significantly shorter. The reported differences were not associated with order of tests, age, gender or child activity level. Conclusion Our results demonstrate a significant information placebo effect on children’s endurance capacity test results. This highlights the possible role of positive information (placebo) in trying to encourage physical activity in children. Whether this effect could be applied to longer-term interventions has yet to be tested. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT03165604, Registered May 24, 2017. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T16:58:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4de71859c9aa47458164f3c7e7b9d7d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T16:58:10Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-4de71859c9aa47458164f3c7e7b9d7d52022-12-21T18:56:42ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312019-01-011911510.1186/s12887-019-1394-xThe effect of placebo on endurance capacity in normal weight children – a randomized trialShira Fanti-Oren0Daphna Birenbaum-Carmeli1Alon Eliakim2Michal Pantanowitz3Dan Nemet4Cheryl Spencer Department of Nursing, University of HaifaCheryl Spencer Department of Nursing, University of HaifaPediatric Department, Child Health Sport Center, Meir Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv UniversityPediatric Department, Child Health Sport Center, Meir Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv UniversityPediatric Department, Child Health Sport Center, Meir Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv UniversityAbstract Background The aim of the study was to examine the influence of the placebo effect on the endurance capacity results in normal weight children. Methods Twenty-four pre-pubertal normal-weight children aged 6–13 years participated in the study. Subjects underwent anthropometric measurements (weight, height, BMI percentile, and fat percentage), a progressive treadmill exercise test to evaluate endurance capacity, and filled habitual activity questionnaire. The participants were examined twice, in a random order, with each child being compared to him/herself. Different types of information were provided regarding a water drink consumed prior to testing- standard information (water) vs. deliberate positive information (presumed energy drink, placebo). Results Following the placebo drink, children demonstrated significantly higher peak pulse (177.9 ± 13.6 vs. 189.8 ± 12.2 bpm), higher stage achieved and longer time of exercise to exhaustion (700.1 ± 155.2 vs. 893.3 ± 150.1 s). Although the exercise duration was longer, stage and heart rate achieved were higher, the reported average, and peak rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were significantly lower for the placebo (18.3 ± 1.4 vs 16.2 ± 1.5). Although the effort was higher while drinking placebo (longer run, higher exercise phase, higher heart rate), recovery time was significantly shorter. The reported differences were not associated with order of tests, age, gender or child activity level. Conclusion Our results demonstrate a significant information placebo effect on children’s endurance capacity test results. This highlights the possible role of positive information (placebo) in trying to encourage physical activity in children. Whether this effect could be applied to longer-term interventions has yet to be tested. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT03165604, Registered May 24, 2017.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-019-1394-xSham effectInformationPhysical activityFitness |
| spellingShingle | Shira Fanti-Oren Daphna Birenbaum-Carmeli Alon Eliakim Michal Pantanowitz Dan Nemet The effect of placebo on endurance capacity in normal weight children – a randomized trial BMC Pediatrics Sham effect Information Physical activity Fitness |
| title | The effect of placebo on endurance capacity in normal weight children – a randomized trial |
| title_full | The effect of placebo on endurance capacity in normal weight children – a randomized trial |
| title_fullStr | The effect of placebo on endurance capacity in normal weight children – a randomized trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of placebo on endurance capacity in normal weight children – a randomized trial |
| title_short | The effect of placebo on endurance capacity in normal weight children – a randomized trial |
| title_sort | effect of placebo on endurance capacity in normal weight children a randomized trial |
| topic | Sham effect Information Physical activity Fitness |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-019-1394-x |
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