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BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exert crucial effects on the regulation of cell apoptosis, signal transduction, differentiation and proliferation. Literatures demonstrate that regular exercise regulates biological pathways at the genomic and post-genomic levels. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the effects of exercises on miRNAs and the correlation between miRNAs and exercise performance. METHODS: In this review, relevant studies were searched in PubMed database using “microRNAs, athletes, physical function” for relevant articles published from 2007 to 2019. Inclusion criteria included publications within recent 10 years, impact factor > 3, and sorting according to “best match.” Finally 73 articles were selected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Growing evidence suggests that miRNAs are mainly regulated by human skeletal muscle movement and varies with different factors, including the type, time, frequency and intensity of exercise. MiRNAs have at least three characteristics as biomarkers, which can be obtained by noninvasive methods (found in accessible body fluids), can specifically express specific pathology and physiological state, and have stable biological characteristics. MiRNAs have been considered as potential diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers based on the physiological functions of miRNAs in different exercise states, to evaluate exercise adaptation status and prevent sports injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]