The Influence of Physical Activity and Chess Sports on Children’s Physical Condition and Cognitive Functions

Background. Children who play chess improve their academic results, cognitive and social skills, however, both cognitive and physical abilities are important for healthy development. Recent evidence suggests that physical activity has a positive impact not only on children’s physical abilities but...

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Main Authors: Ligita Šilinė, Tautvydė Danilčikaitė, Laura Žlibinaitė
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Lithuanian Sports University 2023-12-01
Series:Reabilitacijos Mokslai: Slauga, Kineziterapija, Ergoterapija
Online Access:https://journals.lsu.lt/reabilitacijos-mokslai/article/view/1421
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author Ligita Šilinė
Tautvydė Danilčikaitė
Laura Žlibinaitė
author_facet Ligita Šilinė
Tautvydė Danilčikaitė
Laura Žlibinaitė
author_sort Ligita Šilinė
collection DOAJ
description Background. Children who play chess improve their academic results, cognitive and social skills, however, both cognitive and physical abilities are important for healthy development. Recent evidence suggests that physical activity has a positive impact not only on children’s physical abilities but cognitive functions as well. Yet it is not clear the effect of physical activity and chess on children’s physical condition and cognitive functions. The aim. To identify the influence of physical activity and chess sports on children’s physical condition and cognitive functions. Methods. The study involved 30 children (8-9 years). They were equally divided into three groups: chess-playing (CHESS), physical activity and chess-playing (PA+CHESS), and physical activity (PA). The fnger reaching test was used to assess flexibility, 10x5 m shuttlecock test was used to assess dexterity, handgrip strength was measured using the dynamometer, cognitive functions were evaluated using “MoCA-LT” and Bourdon-Anfmov tests. Results. Flexibility and handgrip strength did not differ signifcantly between groups (p>0.05). The dexterity in CHESS group was worse than in CHESS+PA and PA groups (p<0.05). The dexterity results of the CHESS+PA and PA groups did not differ (p>0.05). The cognitive functions of the CHESS+PA group, as assessed by the MoCA test, were better than those of the PA group (p<0.05). No difference was found between other groups (p>0.05). Conclusions. Children who play chess and participate in sport activity have better cognitive functions than children who only do sport. The worst results of dexterity test were in children who play chess only. Keywords: physical condition, cognitive functions, chess sports, children.
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spelling doaj-art-4970a8df47ba42998c7bcade0a07029e2025-01-09T09:27:24ZengLithuanian Sports UniversityReabilitacijos Mokslai: Slauga, Kineziterapija, Ergoterapija2029-31942538-86732023-12-0122910.33607/rmske.v2i29.1421The Influence of Physical Activity and Chess Sports on Children’s Physical Condition and Cognitive FunctionsLigita Šilinė0Tautvydė Danilčikaitė1Laura Žlibinaitė2Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, Rehabilitation Department, Kaunas; Lithuanian Sports University, Department of Health Promotion and Rehabilitation, KaunasKauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, Rehabilitation Department, KaunasKauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, Rehabilitation Department, Kaunas Background. Children who play chess improve their academic results, cognitive and social skills, however, both cognitive and physical abilities are important for healthy development. Recent evidence suggests that physical activity has a positive impact not only on children’s physical abilities but cognitive functions as well. Yet it is not clear the effect of physical activity and chess on children’s physical condition and cognitive functions. The aim. To identify the influence of physical activity and chess sports on children’s physical condition and cognitive functions. Methods. The study involved 30 children (8-9 years). They were equally divided into three groups: chess-playing (CHESS), physical activity and chess-playing (PA+CHESS), and physical activity (PA). The fnger reaching test was used to assess flexibility, 10x5 m shuttlecock test was used to assess dexterity, handgrip strength was measured using the dynamometer, cognitive functions were evaluated using “MoCA-LT” and Bourdon-Anfmov tests. Results. Flexibility and handgrip strength did not differ signifcantly between groups (p>0.05). The dexterity in CHESS group was worse than in CHESS+PA and PA groups (p<0.05). The dexterity results of the CHESS+PA and PA groups did not differ (p>0.05). The cognitive functions of the CHESS+PA group, as assessed by the MoCA test, were better than those of the PA group (p<0.05). No difference was found between other groups (p>0.05). Conclusions. Children who play chess and participate in sport activity have better cognitive functions than children who only do sport. The worst results of dexterity test were in children who play chess only. Keywords: physical condition, cognitive functions, chess sports, children. https://journals.lsu.lt/reabilitacijos-mokslai/article/view/1421
spellingShingle Ligita Šilinė
Tautvydė Danilčikaitė
Laura Žlibinaitė
The Influence of Physical Activity and Chess Sports on Children’s Physical Condition and Cognitive Functions
Reabilitacijos Mokslai: Slauga, Kineziterapija, Ergoterapija
title The Influence of Physical Activity and Chess Sports on Children’s Physical Condition and Cognitive Functions
title_full The Influence of Physical Activity and Chess Sports on Children’s Physical Condition and Cognitive Functions
title_fullStr The Influence of Physical Activity and Chess Sports on Children’s Physical Condition and Cognitive Functions
title_full_unstemmed The Influence of Physical Activity and Chess Sports on Children’s Physical Condition and Cognitive Functions
title_short The Influence of Physical Activity and Chess Sports on Children’s Physical Condition and Cognitive Functions
title_sort influence of physical activity and chess sports on children s physical condition and cognitive functions
url https://journals.lsu.lt/reabilitacijos-mokslai/article/view/1421
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