Why Is It Important to Combine Learning with Physical Activity?

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Answer

Why should we combine learning with physical activity? A meta-analysis of 59 studies conducted over the course of over 50 years from 1947 to 2009 found that physical activity has a significant and positive effect on academic achievement and cognitive outcomes. Thinking back to the different types of physical exercise we discussed earlier, it found that aerobic exercise had the greatest effect (Fedewa & Ahn, 2011).

Then there was a systematic review of 28 studies, most of which were done between 2010 and 2015. This shows a continuum of research. This systematic review of these 28 studies found the effectiveness of school-based physical activity interventions on both academic achievement and especially on cognitive performance (Mura, Vellante, Nardi, Machado, & Carta, 2015).

In other studies they found that participation in physical activity was associated with increased academic achievement (Castelli, Hillman, Buck, & Erwin 2007; Chomitz, Slining, McGowan, Mitchell, Dawson, & Hacker, 2009; Coe, Pivarnik, Womack, Reeves, & Malina, 2006; Roberts, Freed, & McCarthy, 2010; Singh, Uitjdewilligen, Twisk, van Mechelen, & Chinapaw, 2012; Pontifex, Saliba, Raine, Picchietti,& Hillman, 2013; Lees & Hopkins, 2013; Becker, McClelland, Loprinzi, & Trost, 2014; Ardoy, Fernandez-Rodriguez, Jimenez-Pavon, Castillo, Ruiz, & Ortega, 2014; Esteban-Cornejo, Tejero-Gonzalez, Sallis, & Viega, 2015) and classroom-based high-intensity interval activities improved off-task behavior (Ma, Le Mare, & Gurd, 2014). Some of those higher intensity aerobic activities that we were talking about helped to improve off-task behavior when they tried to redirect students to engage in what they wanted them to engage in.

Overall, research indicates that participating in physical activity increases school achievement, results in better cognitive control and memory task performance, and results in more adaptive and efficient brain function (Chaddock, Voss, & Kramer, 2012; Chaddock, Pontifex, Hillman, & Kramer, 2011). Some people are concerned about adding more physical activity into their classroom. A systematic review of 14 articles was done that resulted in a list of parent perceptions of perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity for children, especially for children with special needs (Shields, Synnot, & Barr, 2012).

Facilitators included:

• Child's desire to be active
• Practicing skills
• Involvement of the child’s peers
• Family support
• Accessible facilities
• Proximity/location
• Quality opportunities
• Skilled staff to assist them

Barriers included:

• Lack of knowledge and skills
• Child's preferences
• Fear
• Parental behavior
• Negative attitudes towards disability
• Inadequate facilities
• Lack of transportation
• Lack of programs/staff capacity
• Cost

Another interesting research study that I wanted to point out was the role of schools in children's physical activity participation (Huberty, Dinkel, Coleman, Beighle, & Apenteng, 2012). This study looked at the perceptions of the school staff. There was a focus group of 12 elementary schools in the Midwest and they all agreed that physical activity was important. The staff was aware of the benefits of physical activity, however, they noticed that eliminating recess and taking out some of those physical activities during the school day was often used as a punishment for behavior. This should not be the case.

Some of the staff perceptions of barriers to incorporating more physical activity into school included:

• Lack of time due to increasing academic demands (found at all grade levels)
• Peer pressure not to be active (typically found in some of the older students)
• Lack of space
• Lack of equipment
• Staff felt that their encouragement of or active participation in physical activity with children resulted in more activity

There are a couple of key points from recent research I’d like to share. First, school-based physical activity promotion and physical activity opportunities hold great promise for increasing physical activity in children. Second, staff felt that getting training regarding physical activity benefits and research was needed to maximize the efforts in increasing physical activity. The staff's perceptions were, if we know more about the research behind physical activity and how we can include it into the classroom, that's going to maximize our efforts to really do so.

This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, Recycle Bin Boogie: Move and Learn with Recyclables!, by Amy Schlessman, BS, MPT, DPT, DHS.