Nan Zeng|Mohammad Ayyub|Haichun Sun|Wen Xu|Ping Xiang|Zan Gao
Effects of Physical Activity on Motor Skills and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review
University of Minnesota|Qujing Normal University|Twin Cities Orthopedics|University of Minnesota|University of South Florida|Zhejiang University|Texas A&M University|University of Minnesota
objective study synthesized literature concerning casual evidence effects various physical activity programs motor skills cognitive development typically developed preschool children methods electronic databases searched july 2017 peerreviewed randomized controlled trials rcts examining effectiveness physical activity motor skills cognitive development healthy young children 46 years screened results total 15 rcts included 10 studies assessing effects physical activity motor skills eight 80 reported significant improvements motor performance one observed mixed findings one failed promote beneficial outcomes five studies investigating influence physical activity cognitive development four 80 showed significant positive changes language learning academic achievement attention working memory notably one indicated significant improvements observed intervention conclusions findings support causal evidence effects physical activity motor skills cognitive development preschool children given shortage available studies future research large representative samples warranted explore relationships physical activity cognitive domains well strengthen confirm doseresponse evidence early childhood