Does fitness enhance learning/academic performance?

Abstract

The interest in the relationship between physical fitness and academic performance is still considerable. However, more ad­vanced research is required to better understand this relationship. Therefore, the purpose of the current review is to describe the state of knowledge of the relationship between physical fitness and academic performance. Furthermore, this relationship is explored with reference to five components of physical fitness, asking which ones have the most beneficial effect on maintain­ing and improving learning outcomes. In this review, we emphasize studies that advance the understanding of this issue, which is still incomplete. These studies offer hope of deeper understanding of the type of selected physical fitness components and their impact on academic performance. Further research into the association between components of physical fitness such as flexibility, strength and endurance of muscles and academic performance in children, while controlling for important covari­ates, is needed.

Keywords

• physical fitness components - exercise - aerobic fitness - flexibility - muscular fitness - learning - academic achievement/performance