ABSTRACT
Objective@#The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the impact of physical activities on cognitive flexibility of children and adolescents in China, and to provide evidence based evidence for relevant research on improving cognitive flexibility of children and adolescents by using physical activities.@*Methods@#CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Data, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, Springer link and Science Direct database were searched. The time span of 40 articles collected in this study was from the establishment of the database to December 31, 2020.@*Results@#A total of 3 262 research samples were included in 40 articles, including 1 674 in the experimental group and 1 588 in the control group. Meta analysis showed that the total effect WMD value of literature was 121.11, Z =12.37, 95% CI =101.91-140.30 ( P <0.01); the sub group of school age children included 32 literatures, and the combined effect WMD value was 126.05, Z =10.42, 95% CI =102.34-149.76 ( P <0.01); the sub group of adolescents included 8 literatures, the combined effect WMD value was 104.00, Z =9.72, 95% CI =83.02-124.98 ( P <0.01). Compared with the control group, physical activity had a significant positive effect on the cognitive flexibility of Chinese children and adolescents. The source of heterogeneity in school age children group was tested by meta regression method. The results showed that the type of children t =12.77, 95% CI =28.79-39.74( P <0.01) was the primary source of heterogeneity in Meta analysis. The results of egger regression analysis showed that t =0.47, 95% CI =-1.48-2.37( P =0.64), and there was no publication bias.@*Conclusion@#Adolescence is the sensitive period for development of cognitive flexibility, and physical activities have a significant positive impact on the cognitive flexibility of children and adolescents.