Aimed to Examine the Effects of Linear and Nonlinear Periodized Strength Training on Motor Performance in SchoolchildrenSBStrengthNCT07690072
Effects of a 20-Week School-Based Periodized Strength Training Program on Motor Performance in Children
A study testing Periodized Strength Training in Schoolchildren in people with Aimed to Examine the Effects of Linear and Nonlinear Periodized Strength Training on Motor Performance in Schoolchildren, run by Universidad de Pamplona at 3 sites in Colombia.
Trial summary
Regular physical activity and supervised strength training are recognized components of healthy growth and motor development during childhood. Although linear and nonlinear periodized strength training are widely used approaches for organizing resistance training, limited information is available regarding their… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 11 to 14 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Aimed to Examine the Effects of Linear and Nonlinear Periodized Strength Training on Motor Performance in Schoolchildren
- What is being tested?
- Periodized Strength Training in Schoolchildren
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 75 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesColombia
- Study dates
- 14 Feb 2023to 15 Jul 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 11 to 14 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Schoolchildren enrolled in one of the participating educational institutions.
- Approximately 12-13 years of age.
- Willing to participate in the study.
- Written informed consent provided by parents or legal guardians.
- Availability to participate in all assessment sessions.
Who cannot join
- Medical history that prevented participation in sports practice (cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, or chronic respiratory disease).
- Musculoskeletal injuries and/or bone malformations at the time of the study.
- Recent injury before study participation.
- Absence during pre-test or post-test assessments.
- Failure to attend at least 80% of the intervention sessions (experimental groups).
- Participation in systematic physical activity or organized sports outside the school setting.
- Lack of written parental or legal guardian consent.
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country.
Colombia3 sites
IE Normal Superior Pamplona
Pamplona, Norte de Santander Department, 543050
Institución Educativa Sede José Antonio Galán
Pamplona, Norte de Santander Department, 543050
Seminario Menor Santo tomas de Aquino
Pamplona, Norte de Santander Department, 543050
About this study
Regular physical activity and supervised strength training are recognized components of healthy growth and motor development during childhood. Although linear and nonlinear periodized strength training are widely used approaches for organizing resistance training, limited information is available regarding their comparative application in school-aged children, particularly within school-based programs. This randomized controlled trial compares two periodized strength training models implemented over a 20-week intervention in schoolchildren to assess muscular power and speed/agility using standardized motor performance assessments.
Read the detailed description
Regular physical activity is an essential component of healthy growth and development during childhood. Current physical activity recommendations encourage children to participate in daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity that includes muscle- and bone-strengthening activities several times per week. Within this context, supervised strength training represents a structured form of physical activity that can be incorporated into school-based exercise programs.
Adaptations to strength training are influenced by the organization of training variables, including intensity, volume, frequency, density, exercise selection, and progression. These variables are systematically manipulated through periodization to organize training across an intervention. Two of the most frequently used periodization strategies are linear periodization, characterized by progressive increases in training intensity accompanied by reductions in training volume, and nonlinear periodization, in which training variables are modified more frequently throughout the training program.
Although both periodization models are commonly applied in resistance training, comparatively few investigations have evaluated their application in school-aged children. Existing studies have primarily involved young athletes or sport-specific populations, and information regarding the comparative use of linear and nonlinear periodization in school-based interventions remains limited. Additional randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate these programming strategies in children using standardized measures of motor performance.
This study is a 20-week randomized controlled trial conducted in schoolchildren. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: a linear periodization group, a nonlinear periodization group, or a control group that continues regular physical education classes. The intervention consists of three supervised strength training sessions per week for the intervention groups.
Motor performance is assessed before and after the intervention using standardized field-based tests of lower-body muscular power, upper-body muscular power, sprint performance, and agility. Comparisons are performed between the linear periodization group, the nonlinear periodization group, and the control group according to the study protocol.
- Being tested
- Periodized Strength Training in Schoolchildren
- Keywords
- children, strength training, motor performance
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Periodized Strength Training in SchoolchildrenBehavioural
Participants completed a 20-week school-based periodized strength training program conducted during extracurricular sessions three times per week. Participants were assigned to either a linear periodization group or a nonlinear periodization group. The program aimed to improve motor performance through structured strength training exercises adapted to school-aged children.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group (CG) | No intervention | Participants attended only regular physical education classes and did not receive the strength training intervention. |
| Linear Periodization Group (LPG) | Experimental | Participants completed a 20-week school-based strength training program using a linear periodization model, performed three times per week in extracurricular sessions. Receives: Behavioral: Periodized Strength Training in Schoolchildren |
| Nonlinear Periodization Group (NLPG) | Experimental | Participants completed a 20-week school-based strength training program using a nonlinear periodization model, performed three times per week in extracurricular sessions. Receives: Behavioral: Periodized Strength Training in Schoolchildren |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Motor Performance in Schoolchildren
Changes in motor performance evaluated through:
Countermovement jump (cm) Squat jump (cm) Standing long jump (cm) 10 × 5 m shuttle run (s) Medicine ball throw (cm)
Measured: 20 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Jul 2026
- Study start14 Feb 2023
- Primary completion1 Jul 2023
- Study completion15 Jul 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Aimed to Examine the Effects of Linear and Nonlinear Periodized Strength Training on Motor Performance in SchoolchildrenStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- The present investigation was a twenty-week randomized controlled trial, with random assignment using a 1:1 ratio. Randomization eliminated the possibility of contamination between students from the same school. Three educational institutions were contacted and agreed to participate. Seventy-five children volunteered to participate in this intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: control group (CG, n = 25), linear programming group (LPG, n = 25), and nonlinear programming group (NLPG, n = 25). The exclusion criteria were: a) medical history that prevented sports practice (cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, or chronic respiratory disease), b) musculoskeletal injuries and/or bone malformations at the time of the study, (c) have a recent injury, (d) absenteeism during the evaluation periods pre- or post-test, (e) not having completed a minimum participation of 80% attendance at the intervention sessions for the experimental groups \[17-19\], (f) systemat
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 75 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Universidad de Pamplona
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dennis Gregorio Contreras, Universidad de Pamplona
- Investigators
- Dennis G Contreras, Doctor, Principal investigator, Universidad de Pamplona
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07690072
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UPamplona
- Acronym
- SBStrength
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 8 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared in order to protect participant confidentiality and privacy and because no data-sharing plan was established in the study protocol or informed consent process.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of a 20-Week School-Based Periodized Strength Training Program on Motor Performance in Children
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07690072
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SBStrength / UPamplona
- Keywords
- children, strength training, motor performance
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 75 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Universidad de PamplonaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 14 Feb 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Jul 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 8 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Regular physical activity and supervised strength training are recognized components of healthy growth and motor development during childhood. Although linear and nonlinear periodized strength training are widely used approaches for organizing resistance training, limited information is available regarding their comparative application in school-aged children, particularly within school-based programs. This randomized controlled trial compares two periodized strength training models implemented over a 20-week intervention in schoolchildren to assess muscular power and speed/agility using standardized motor performance assessments.
Detailed description
Regular physical activity is an essential component of healthy growth and development during childhood. Current physical activity recommendations encourage children to participate in daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity that includes muscle- and bone-strengthening activities several times per week. Within this context, supervised strength training represents a structured form of physical activity that can be incorporated into school-based exercise programs.
Adaptations to strength training are influenced by the organization of training variables, including intensity, volume, frequency, density, exercise selection, and progression. These variables are systematically manipulated through periodization to organize training across an intervention. Two of the most frequently used periodization strategies are linear periodization, characterized by progressive increases in training intensity accompanied by reductions in training volume, and nonlinear periodization, in which training variables are modified more frequently throughout the training program.
Although both periodization models are commonly applied in resistance training, comparatively few investigations have evaluated their application in school-aged children. Existing studies have primarily involved young athletes or sport-specific populations, and information regarding the comparative use of linear and nonlinear periodization in school-based interventions remains limited. Additional randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate these programming strategies in children using standardized measures of motor performance.
This study is a 20-week randomized controlled trial conducted in schoolchildren. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: a linear periodization group, a nonlinear periodization group, or a control group that continues regular physical education classes. The intervention consists of three supervised strength training sessions per week for the intervention groups.
Motor performance is assessed before and after the intervention using standardized field-based tests of lower-body muscular power, upper-body muscular power, sprint performance, and agility. Comparisons are performed between the linear periodization group, the nonlinear periodization group, and the control group according to the study protocol.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- The present investigation was a twenty-week randomized controlled trial, with random assignment using a 1:1 ratio. Randomization eliminated the possibility of contamination between students from the same school. Three educational institutions were contacted and agreed to participate. Seventy-five children volunteered to participate in this intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: control group (CG, n = 25), linear programming group (LPG, n = 25), and nonlinear programming group (NLPG, n = 25). The exclusion criteria were: a) medical history that prevented sports practice (cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, or chronic respiratory disease), b) musculoskeletal injuries and/or bone malformations at the time of the study, (c) have a recent injury, (d) absenteeism during the evaluation periods pre- or post-test, (e) not having completed a minimum participation of 80% attendance at the intervention sessions for the experimental groups [17-19], (f) systemat
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group (CG) | No intervention | –Participants attended only regular physical education classes and did not receive the strength training intervention. |
| Linear Periodization Group (LPG) | Experimental | Behavioral: Periodized Strength Training in SchoolchildrenParticipants completed a 20-week school-based strength training program using a linear periodization model, performed three times per week in extracurricular sessions. |
| Nonlinear Periodization Group (NLPG) | Experimental | Behavioral: Periodized Strength Training in SchoolchildrenParticipants completed a 20-week school-based strength training program using a nonlinear periodization model, performed three times per week in extracurricular sessions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 11 to 14 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Schoolchildren enrolled in one of the participating educational institutions.
- Approximately 12-13 years of age.
- Willing to participate in the study.
- Written informed consent provided by parents or legal guardians.
- Availability to participate in all assessment sessions.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Medical history that prevented participation in sports practice (cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, or chronic respiratory disease).
- Musculoskeletal injuries and/or bone malformations at the time of the study.
- Recent injury before study participation.
- Absence during pre-test or post-test assessments.
- Failure to attend at least 80% of the intervention sessions (experimental groups).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Periodized Strength Training in SchoolchildrenParticipants completed a 20-week school-based periodized strength training program conducted during extracurricular sessions three times per week. Participants were assigned to either a linear periodization group or a nonlinear periodization group. The program aimed to improve motor performance through structured strength training exercises adapted to school-aged children. | Behavioural | Linear Periodization Group (LPG), Nonlinear Periodization Group (NLPG) |
Primary outcome
Motor Performance in Schoolchildren
Time frame: 20 weeks
Changes in motor performance evaluated through: Countermovement jump (cm) Squat jump (cm) Standing long jump (cm) 10 × 5 m shuttle run (s) Medicine ball throw (cm)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared in order to protect participant confidentiality and privacy and because no data-sharing plan was established in the study protocol or informed consent process.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Dennis G Contreras, Doctor principal investigator
Universidad de Pamplona
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Periodized Strength Training in Schoolchildren in people with Aimed to Examine the Effects of Linear and Nonlinear Periodized Strength Training on Motor Performance in Schoolchildren, run by Universidad de Pamplona at 3 sites in Colombia.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 3 sites in Colombia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Motor Performance in Schoolchildren (time frame: 20 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Jul 2026.