Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2024, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (11): 1334-1342.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2024.11.011

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Effect of rhythmic physical activity on executive function in children aged three to six: a systematic review

DU Anlong1, NING Ke1,2(), SHANGGUAN Chunzi1, WANG Chen1, ZHANG Jingjie1, QIAO Siying1, LI Zhangtao1   

  1. 1. Physical Education School of Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
    2. Shaanxi Provincial Children and Adolescents Sports Research Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710068, China
  • Received:2024-10-08 Published:2024-11-25 Online:2024-12-05
  • Contact: NING Ke, E-mail: ningke@snnu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Social Science Fund of China(22BTY051)

Abstract:

Objective To systematically analyze the effect of rhythmic physical activity on executive function and sub-components in healthy preschool children.

Methods Literature in Chinese and English was retrieved from databases such as CNKI, Wanfang Data, EBSCO, PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science for researches about the intervention of rhythmic physical activity for executive function of healthy children aged three to six years, up to October, 2024. The methodological quality of the researches was evaluated with PEDro Scale, and data were extracted for a systematic review.

Results Ten researches, published between 2019 and 2024, from seven countries, were included; and seven were randomized controlled trials and three were quasi experiment, involving a total of 1 047 children. The scores of the PEDro scale ranged five to eight. The rhythmic physical activity intervention was 20 to 50 minutes a time, one to five times a week, for six to 20 weeks. The forms of rhythmic physical activity intervention included sports activities (street dance, flower ball cheerleading, walking, running, jumping and other motor skill exercises), music teaching activities (music perception, rhythm synchronization and music games), dance activities (creative dance, action imitation and role playing) and music performance activities (body percussion, rhythm sticks, sand balls and drums). Rhythmic physical activity was effective on at least one sub-component of executive function. However, five of the seven researches involving cognitive flexibility failed to demonstrate a positive effect. Six researches compared the effects of rhythmic physical activity versus other physical activities, and five found that rhythmic physical activity was more effective on executive function.

Conclusion Rhythmic physical activity can improve inhibitory control and working memory in preschool children; but the effect on cognitive flexibility remain controversial.

Key words: children, preschool, rhythmic physical activities, executive function, systematic review

CLC Number: