Increased Physical Activity Linked to Improved School Performance

They noticed that most of the students from the intervention school achieved the national learning goals in all subjects examined that included Swedish, English and mathematics as compared to the control groups.

“You can express it that two hours of extra physical education each week doubled the odds that a pupil achieves the national learning goals. We did not see a corresponding improvement in the control schools, where the pupils did not receive extra physical activity – rather the contrary, a deterioration,” said scientist and neurologist Thomas Linden at the Sahlgrenska Academy.

 The result of the current study is in line with previous studies that highlighted an association between physical activity and cognition.

 

“We have obtained a significantly better understanding of the mechanisms of learning in recent years. And it’s very gratifying to be able to conclude that it is possible to improve the school performance of young pupils with relatively simple means,” said Thomas Linden.

 (The article was published in the Journal of School Health in August.)

 

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