ObjectiveThe current review was aimed to determine the effectiveness of mental imagery training (MIT) on the enhancement of maximum voluntary muscle contraction (MVC) force for healthy young and old adults.Data sourcesSix electronic databases were searched from July 2021 to March 2022. Search terms included: “motor imagery training,” “motor imagery practice,” “mental practice,” “mental training,” “movement imagery,” “cognitive training,” “strength,” “force,” “muscle strength,” “performance,” “enhancement,” “improvement,” “development,” and “healthy adults.”Study selection and data extractionRandomized controlled trials of MIT in enhancing muscle strength with healthy adults were selected. The decision on whether a study met the inclusion criteria of the review was made by two reviewers independently. Any disagreements between the two reviewers were first resolved by discussion between the two reviewers. If consensus could not be reached, then it would be arbitrated by a third reviewer.Data synthesisTwenty-five studies including both internal MIT and external MIT were included in meta-analysis for determining the efficacy of MIT on enhancing muscle strength and 22 internal MIT were used for subgroup analysis for examining dose-response relationship of MIT on MVC.ResultsMIT demonstrated significant benefit on enhancing muscle strength when compared with no exercise, Effect Size (ES), 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.89–1.30, favoring MIT, but was inferior to physical training (PT), ES, 0.38, 95% CI, 0.15–0.62, favoring PT. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that MIT was more effective for older adults (ES, 2.17, 95% CI, 1.57–2.76) than young adults (ES, 0.95, 95% CI, 0.74–1.17), p = 0.0002, and for small finger muscles (ES, 1.64, 95% CI, 1.06–2.22) than large upper extremity muscles (ES, 0.86, 95% CI, 0.56–1.16), p = 0.02. No significant difference was found in the comparison of small finger muscles and large lower extremity muscles, p = 0.19 although the ES of the former (ES, 1.64, 95% CI, 1.06–2.22) was greater than that of the later (ES, 1.20, 95%, 0.88–1.52).ConclusionThis review demonstrates that MIT has better estimated effects on enhancing MVC force compared to no exercise, but is inferior to PT. The combination of MIT and PT is equivalent to PT alone in enhancing muscle strength. The subgroup group analysis further suggests that older adults and small finger muscles may benefit more from MIT than young adults and larger muscles.

The study aims to help primary and secondary school students develop a good habit of physical exercise by exploring the current situation of physical exercise of primary and secondary school students and analyzing the factors affecting their physical exercise. Then, intervention strategies are figured out for different groups of students and help them develop a good habit of physical exercise. From the perspective of educational psychology and parents’ entrepreneurship education, the research on the physical exercise of primary and secondary school students is conducted by a questionnaire survey, mathematical statistics and literature review. A total of 280 students from five schools in Tianjin are selected as the research subjects, and the current situation of students’ physical exercise in these five schools is investigated. The results show that 40.5% of boys and 39.4% of girls can take physical exercise more than three times a week; 48.9% of the students do physical exercise for more than 30 mins each time; the students who usually take regular exercise at school account for 82.1%. The physical exercise that students always do is running, badminton and table tennis, which rank the top three among the sports they do. The students usually play basketball, volleyball, and football, and they rarely do the sports like swimming, Wushu, and aerobics. This result is closely related to the characteristics and places of primary and middle school students. The survey shows that the physical exercise awareness of most primary and secondary school students is correct; most students can participate in physical exercise, but few students can do it regularly; parents’ support, parents’ habits of doing exercise, and family’s spending on physical exercise have a significant impact on developing students’ habits of doing physical exercise. Based on the above, it is concluded that the primary and secondary stage is very important for students. Physical education teachers should follow the principle of teaching different students with different methods, enrich teaching materials, and improve teaching quality. The study provides a reference for the reform of PE to guide primary and middle school students to participate in sports activities, improving students’ physical quality.

College students have taken part in less and less physical activities as a result of the common static lifestyle in recent years, lowering the level of motor function. This phenomenon has been a source of concern for schools and the government, and it is necessary to take corresponding measures to change it. The general motor function level of Chinese college students is explored first based on artificial intelligence and the human–computer interaction technology. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for College Students is compiled by referring to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and 561 students from colleges in Tianjin province are assessed based on the functional movement screen (FMS). Spearman correlation and multivariate regression analysis (MRA) are used to analyze the correlation between the motor function and physical activity status. In terms of lunch break frequency, the proportion of students having one to two lunch breaks in a week is the highest (54.15%); in terms of the frequency of doing moderate physical exercise, the proportion of students doing moderate physical exercise for 1–2 days in a week is the highest (50.61%); in terms of the frequency of doing heavy physical exercise, the proportion of students doing heavy exercise for 1–2 days in a week is the highest (47.26%); in terms of the sedentary time, the proportion of students with sedentary time more than 5 h in a day is the highest (40.61%); in terms of eye use time, the proportion of students with 8–10 h eye use time in a day is the highest (43.61%). Besides, in terms of the FMS score, the proportion of students with 13–15 FMS is the highest (48.46%). The hurdle step (21.03%), straight knee lift (22.52%), and body rotation stability (18.31%) have a relatively low proportion among the three-point items. There is a positive correlation between motor function score with the time of moderate exercise and the time of heavy exercise (P < 0.05). College students generally have insufficient rest time, long eye use time, and long sitting time, leading to a low level of motor function, manifested by an asymmetry between both sides of the body and poor trunk stability. It is recommended to add hurdling steps, straight knee lifts, and body rotation stability tests to college physical education courses.

By combing relevant research on the development status of motor quotient and its evaluation system at home and abroad, this paper expounds and clarifies the future research direction of motor quotient as well as constructs a basic framework of motor quotient concept classification and evaluation-application system. Research found that first, the research on motor quotient abroad started earlier and has rich evaluation means, mainly focusing on the clinical diagnosis of preschool children’s development and the evaluation of motor development, but there is little discussion on the concept of motor quotient, only involving the discussion on sports quality and kinesthetic intelligence; applied research is mainly reflected in the fields of physical education and medical clinic. Second, there are many discussions on the concept and connotation of motor quotient in China. The research on evaluation system is gradually enriched, but most of it is used in the field of education, while that of practical application is almost bare. Third, the future research direction should focus on teenagers, carry out research from a multi-disciplinary perspective, broaden the research field, and enrich practical application.