Unexpected finding elucidates the impact of exercise duration on academic achievement in children
The classic image of a disciplined classroom, with students sitting at their desks, could be on the verge of changing. Research suggests that it is not about long training sessions or complex routines, but just a few minutes of intense exercise right before an academic task. The result:
### Nine minutes that make a difference
Researchers gathered 25 students aged between 9 and 12 to test a simple hypothesis: could a brief routine of intense intervals enhance concentration? The students performed squats, jumping jacks, knee lifts, and lunges, alternating 30 seconds of exercise with 30 seconds of rest, all without leaving the classroom or using special equipment. The session lasted only nine minutes and was enough to produce measurable changes in verbal comprehension.
The results were clear: students who did this routine improved an average of eight points on the KTEA-3 reading fluency scale, a difference equivalent to jumping from the 50th percentile to the 70th in academic performance.
### What happens in the brain after movement
Through electroencephalograms, researchers observed a reduction in the so-called “error-related negativity”, a neuronal signal linked to distraction and excessive focus on mistakes. After exercise, children showed a greater ability to maintain attention and quickly recover from errors during the test. According to Drollette, this pattern reflects a more resilient mental state, less anxious, and more task-oriented. In other words,
### Implications for education
This opens an interesting door for schools, many of which have reduced recess or barely offer active breaks throughout the day. Compared to impractical routines, such as jogging for twenty minutes on a treadmill, this proposal stands out for being brief, accessible, and applicable in any classroom. Etnier emphasizes that introducing these intervals just before exams, reading sessions, or activities that require sustained attention could become a simple and impactful tool. Additionally, she suggests that these practices could positively influence students’ mental health and emotional well-being.
### A paradigm shift in the classroom
What started as an experimental hypothesis is shaping up to be a possible structural change in primary education. Incorporating nine minutes of intense movement could not only improve children’s comprehension and concentration but also redefine
In an educational system increasingly pressured by results, this finding serves as a reminder that sometimes the most powerful solution lies in a simple gesture: getting up, moving, and refocusing with a renewed mind.
