The School of Kinesiology’s Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory (PAEL) researchers Wenxi Liu, PhD candidate, Nan Zeng, former PhD student, Daniel J. McDonough, PhD candidate, and Zan Gao, PhD, associate professor and director of PAEL, have published a research article titled “Effect of active video games on healthy children’s fundamental motor skills and physical fitness: A systematic review” in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 

This review paper synthesized the most updated literature regarding the casual evidence of the effects of active video games (AVGs) on fundamental motor skills (FMS; locomotor skills and object control skills) and physical fitness among healthy children. Overall, the current available evidence supports AVGs as an effective means to improve physical fitness, such as balance, postural stability, and agility, among healthy children. However, the findings of AVGs on healthy children’s object control and locomotor skills remain inconclusive and warrants further investigations.