The Use of Single-Case Experimental Research to Examine Physical Activity, Exercise, and Physical Fitness Interventions: A Review

Abstract

This review identified studies that have utilized single-case experimental methods to evaluate physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness interventions. A total of 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Single-case experimental design studies were inclusive to clinical populations and able to demonstrate an intervention effect. Future researchers should use validated and reliable assessments of physical activity or physical activity capacity, establish stable baseline assessments of their target behavior prior to the introduction of any intervention, use statistical tests to establish clinical and statistical significance, and move away from simple A-B designs that do not rule out the effects of extraneous variables.