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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07691567

Exercise Snacks and Muscular Fitness in Sedentary Young Women

This randomized controlled study examined whether exercise snacks could improve skeletal muscle strength and related physical fitness in sedentary female university students. Eligible participants were sedentary women aged 18 to 25 years who were randomly assigned to an exercise snacks group, a regular exercise group, or a control group. The intervention lasted 8 weeks. The exercise snacks group accumulated short bouts of exercise across the day, while the regular exercise group completed more concentrated exercise sessions three times per week. The control group maintained their usual lifestyle. Muscle strength and related physical fitness were assessed before and after the intervention. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility, and safety of exercise snacks in a university setting.

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Key information

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior Behavior Motor Activity Muscle Strength

Age range

18 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Chongqing Normal University

Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, 401331, China

About this study

Sedentary behavior is common among university students and may contribute to reduced physical fitness and lower skeletal muscle function. Exercise snacks are short bouts of physical activity performed repeatedly throughout the day and may offer a time-efficient strategy for interrupting prolonged sitting.

This single-center randomized controlled study was conducted at Chongqing Normal University. Sedentary female university students aged 18 to 25 years were screened for eligibility. Participants completed baseline assessments and were randomly allocated to an exercise snacks group, a regular exercise group, or a control group.

The intervention lasted 8 weeks. The exercise snacks group performed short exercise bouts distributed throughout the day, with a total weekly exercise volume of approximately 75 minutes. The regular exercise group performed exercise three times per week, with each session lasting approximately 25 minutes. Both intervention groups received exercise guidance, reminders, adherence monitoring, and ratings of perceived exertion through the Tizhiyun mobile application. The control group maintained their usual study and lifestyle routines without additional study-prescribed exercise.

Primary outcomes included isokinetic muscle strength, surface electromyography, and mid-thigh isometric pull performance. Secondary outcomes included standing long jump, knee push-ups, and bodyweight squats to exhaustion. Outcome assessments were conducted at baseline and after the 8-week intervention. Adherence, perceived exertion, and exercise-related adverse events were recorded during the study period.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Female university students aged 18 to 25 years.
  • Daily sedentary time of at least 8 hours, assessed using a sedentary behavior questionnaire.
  • No contraindications to exercise based on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.
  • No regular exercise participation during the previous 3 months.

Exclusion criteria

  • Clinical conditions that make participation in exercise inappropriate.
  • Substantial body weight fluctuation during the previous 3 months.
  • Hypertension, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, or use of related medications.

Treatment and study plan

Exercise Snacks

Behavioral

Participants performed an 8-week exercise snacks program consisting of short bouts of physical activity distributed across the day. The program was performed 7 days per week, with approximately 75 minutes of exercise per week. Participants completed approximately 11 minutes of short exercise on weekdays and 10 minutes on weekends. Exercise guidance, reminders, adherence monitoring, and ratings of perceived exertion were provided through the Tizhiyun mobile application.

Regular exercise

Behavioral

Participants performed an 8-week regular exercise program. Exercise sessions were completed three times per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with each session lasting approximately 25 minutes. Exercise guidance, reminders, adherence monitoring, and ratings of perceived exertion were provided through the Tizhiyun mobile application.

Primary outcomes

  1. Isokinetic Muscle Strength

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 8

    Isokinetic muscle strength was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer during standardized testing. Change from baseline to post-intervention was evaluated.

  2. Surface Electromyography Activity

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 8

    Surface electromyographic activity was recorded during standardized muscle strength testing to evaluate neuromuscular activation.

  3. Mid-Thigh Isometric Pull

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 8

    Maximal force generated during a standardized mid-thigh isometric pull test was assessed to evaluate whole-body isometric strength.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Standing Long Jump

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 8

    Standing long jump distance was assessed using a standardized test of lower-body explosive performance.

  2. Knee Push-Ups

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 8

    The number of correctly completed knee push-up repetitions was assessed using a standardized muscular endurance test.

  3. Bodyweight Squats to Exhaustion

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 8

    The number of correctly completed bodyweight squats performed to volitional exhaustion was assessed as an indicator of lower-body muscular endurance.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Chongqing Normal University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of a 75-Minute Weekly Exercise Snack on Muscular Fitness in Sedentary Young Women

Acronym: ES

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 9, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 9, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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