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Children
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Effects of Exercise Interventions on Children
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Effects of Exercise Interventions on Children

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Orthopedics & Sports Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 1600

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Nebojša Trajković

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia
Interests: physical education; sport; fitness testing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The role of exercise interventions in shaping children's physical, cognitive, and emotional development has been a focal point of scientific research for decades. The prevalence of physical inactivity among children, coupled with rising health concerns such as obesity and developmental delays, underscores the urgent need for evidence-based strategies to improve their well-being. Exercise interventions have been shown to enhance physical fitness, motor skills, and psychosocial outcomes, making this a critical area of study in public health and education.

The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together cutting-edge research on the effects of exercise interventions on children's physical and mental health, motor skill development, and overall quality of life. It seeks to address gaps in knowledge, explore innovative methodologies, and provide actionable insights for practitioners, educators, and policymakers. Contributions focusing on diverse populations, including children with disabilities or chronic conditions, are highly encouraged.

This Special Issue will showcase studies exploring the following themes:

The impact of various types of exercise (e.g., HIIT, resistance training, sports-specific drills) on children’s development.

The relationship between exercise intensity, frequency, and outcomes in health and fitness.

Long-term effects of structured physical activity programs.

Novel approaches to integrating exercise into school and community settings.

The interplay between exercise, cognitive function, and emotional well-being in children.

We are inviting original research articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that address the following topics:

The efficacy of specific exercise interventions for improving physical fitness and motor skills.

Multidisciplinary approaches to promoting exercise in children’s health.

Technological innovations in monitoring and enhancing physical activity.

Socio-cultural and environmental determinants of exercise participation.

Comparative studies evaluating different intervention strategies.

Dr. Nebojša Trajković
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • exercise interventions
  • physical fitness
  • motor skills development
  • children’s health
  • physical activity programs
  • psychosocial outcomes
  • pediatric exercise science

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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12 pages, 767 KiB  
Article
Effect of Relative Age on Gross Motor Coordination Development, Considering Biological Maturity and Sex
by Xiaoyu Zhang, Gaël Ennequin, Anthony J. Blazevich and Sébastien Ratel
Children 2025, 12(5), 619; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12050619 - 10 May 2025
Viewed by 277
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of relative age on gross motor coordination (GMC) development, taking into account biological maturity and sex. Methods: 729 participants aged 10 to 16 years completed three GMC tests newly designed to minimize the potentially confounding [...] Read more.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of relative age on gross motor coordination (GMC) development, taking into account biological maturity and sex. Methods: 729 participants aged 10 to 16 years completed three GMC tests newly designed to minimize the potentially confounding effects of physical fitness. The tests included a Hand-Foot coordination test, Dribbling-Targeting test (DT test), and a T balance and agility test (T test). Relative age was determined using birth quartiles: BQ1 (January–March); BQ2 (April–June); BQ3 (July–September); and BQ4 (October–December). Regarding biological maturity, the participants were categorized according to their estimated peak height velocity (pre- and post-PHV). Results: Relative age did not significantly impact the overall GMC score. In contrast, biological maturity emerged as a significant determinant of GMC, with post-PHV participants outperforming their pre-PHV counterparts in the three tests (p < 0.001). The results also showed a significant main effect of sex in the DT and T tests, i.e., in tasks involving dynamic coordination and agility, with boys consistently outperforming girls (p < 0.001). Significant biological maturity × sex interactions in the DT and T tests also indicated an advantage of boys over girls with advancing biological maturity (p < 0.05). Conclusions: these findings highlight the importance of considering biological maturity and sex rather than relative age in GMC development from childhood through adolescence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Exercise Interventions on Children)
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16 pages, 2166 KiB  
Article
Impact of Exercise on Psychological Well-Being in Patients with Pediatric Cancer: An Experimental Study
by Kenan Koç, Tuba Arslan, Osman Pepe, Kerimhan Kaynak, Mustafa Soner Yüce, İbrahim Dalbudak, Özdemir Atar, Berat Koçyiğit, Gül Bahar Bayıroğlu, Şaban Ünver, Hamza Küçük, Levent Ceylan and Fatma Neşe Şahin
Children 2025, 12(4), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12040404 - 22 Mar 2025
Viewed by 434
Abstract
Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of exercise on psychological disorders in patients receiving childhood cancer treatment. Methods: The study group consisted of patients with cancer between the ages of 9 and 17 who were treated in the Hematology–Oncology units [...] Read more.
Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of exercise on psychological disorders in patients receiving childhood cancer treatment. Methods: The study group consisted of patients with cancer between the ages of 9 and 17 who were treated in the Hematology–Oncology units of Erciyes University. For the sample group, children with cancer were informed about the content of the study, and 40 children with cancer agreed to participate in the study voluntarily. The volunteers were divided into two groups, control and experimental, each consisting of 20 people. For the pre-test, participants completed a socio-demographic information form, as well as the Kovacs Depression scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the pediatric cancer quality of life scale for children. Volunteers in the experimental group engaged in aerobic and strength exercises for an eight-week period. The study was completed with 8 volunteers in the control group and 14 volunteers in the experimental group due to various factors, such as voluntary withdrawal, disease progression, and mortality. After this period, the volunteers were asked to complete the same scales once more as a post-test. The SPSS 22.00 statistical analysis program was used. The independent samples t-test was employed to compare the pre-test and post-test findings of the control and experimental groups, while the paired samples t-test was used for within-group evaluations. Results: In the within-group comparisons, significant differences were observed in favor of the post-test scores in the experimental group for both the anxiety scale (p < 0.05, Mean: 8.14) and the quality-of-life child form (p < 0.05, Mean: 38.14). For intergroup comparisons, significant differences were found in favor of the experimental group in terms of post-test scores of depression (p < 0.05, mean: 10.57) and anxiety scales (p < 0.05, mean: 8.14). Conclusions: It is postulated that this outcome stems from the positive effects of sports activities in helping children undergoing cancer treatment distance themselves from their psychological adversities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Exercise Interventions on Children)
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Other

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17 pages, 580 KiB  
Systematic Review
Strength Training in Children: A Systematic Review Study
by Borys Bismark León-Reyes, Dilan Galeano-Rojas, Manuel Gámez-Vílchez, Claudio Farias-Valenzuela, Claudio Hinojosa-Torres and Pedro Valdivia-Moral
Children 2025, 12(5), 623; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12050623 - 12 May 2025
Viewed by 478
Abstract
Background: With the increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and childhood obesity, physical activity and exercise have emerged as essential pillars of health promotion in childhood. In this context, schools play a fundamental role as key players in the implementation of interventions that promote [...] Read more.
Background: With the increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and childhood obesity, physical activity and exercise have emerged as essential pillars of health promotion in childhood. In this context, schools play a fundamental role as key players in the implementation of interventions that promote healthy habits and a more physically active life. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the benefits of strength training in primary school students. Methods: The review was carried out using the Web of Science and Scopus databases, following the guidelines of the PRISMA statement and a PICO strategy. The studies were selected according to different inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 11 scientific articles published in English during the last 5 years (2020–2024). The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the STROBE checklist. Results: The results suggest that strength training with elementary school students improves physical and motor performance variables, as well as cognitive, psychosocial and health variables. Likewise, it can be observed that plyometric strength-training methods and unilateral and combined programs with aerobic and motor skills training are highly effective and favor adherence to physical exercise. This also demonstrates the importance and necessity of developing motor coordination skills from an early age, since they represent a determining factor in strength training as the exercises become more specific and complex. Conclusions: In conclusion, implementing strength training programs in primary education confers several benefits at an integral level for the students and is crucial to improving the lifestyle and quality of life of students. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Exercise Interventions on Children)
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