Network Meta analysis on the effects of different exercise modalities on executive function in school aged children
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2026059
- VernacularTitle:不同运动方式对学龄儿童执行功能影响的网状Meta分析
- Author:
XU Hongru, LIU Mingyi, WANG Haolin, CHU Pengyi, LU Donglei, KONG Nianxin, CAI Jingjie, PENG Li ao
1
Author Information
1. China Youth Sports and Integration of Sport and Education Public Policy Research Center/College of Sports Training
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Motor activity;
Executive function;
Growth and development;
Meta analysis;
Child
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2026;47(2):256-262
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the intervention effects of different exercise modalities on executive function in school aged children, providing references for formulating exercise prescriptions to promote school aged children executive function.
Methods:A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and CBM to identify studies on the effects of exercises on executive function in school aged children. The search period spanned from the database inception to August 2025. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies. Network Meta analysis was performed using Stata 16.0.
Results:A total of 51 studies involving 5 710 school aged children and seven modalities of exercises(control group,small ball sports,large ball sports,aerobic exercise,combined exercise,sport game,gymnastic and dance sports) were finally included. Network Meta analysis showed that, in terms of inhibitory control development of school aged children, small ball sports ( SMD =-0.98,95% CI =-1.32 to -0.64 ), large ball sports ( SMD =-0.64,95% CI =-0.91 to -0.36), and mixed sports ( SMD =-0.26,95% CI =-0.50 to -0.02]) were more effective than the control group; in terms of working memory, largeball sports ( SMD =-1.26,95% CI =-1.88 to -0.65) and small ball sports ( SMD =-0.91,95% CI =-1.64 to -0.19) were superior to the control group; in terms of improving cognitive flexibility, large ball sports ( SMD =-1.02,95% CI =-1.28 to -0.76), gymnastics and dance sports ( SMD =-0.80,95% CI =-1.21 to -0.40), and small ball sports ( SMD =-0.75,95% CI =-1.15 to -0.36) were more effective than the control group (all P <0.05). Surface under cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA) showed that small ball sports had the highest value (SUCRA=98.9%) in improving inhibitory control, while large ball sports achieved the highest score(SUCRA=92.6%) in enhancing working memory, and large ball sports also had the highest value(SUCRA=94.7%) in promoting cognitive flexibility.
Conclusions:For developing inhibitory control in school aged children, small ball sports are recommended as a priority. For enhancing working memory and cognitive flexibility, large ball sports are recommended.
