Sports Therapy for Attention, Cognitions and Sociality

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to understand if sport improves attention symptoms, social competency, and cognitive functions in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study was designed as a 6-week, prospective trial, including 12 sessions of education/sports therapy. 13 ADHD children participated in a 90-min athletic activity (sports-cADHD) twice a week, while 15 ADHD children received education on behavior control (edu-cADHD). During the 6-week treatment period, the sports-cADHD group showed greater improvements in DuPaul's ADHD Rating Scale scores, parent and teacher version (K-ARS-PT), compared to those of the edu-sADHD group. The cognitive functions assessed with the digit symbol and Trail-Making Test part B (TMT B) were improved in the sports-cADHD group, while the cognitive functions observed in the edu-sADHD group were not significantly changed. The cooperativeness scores in the sports-cADHD group were greatly increased compared to those of the edu-sADHD group. The results demonstrated a positive correlation with sports and improvement in attention symptoms, cognitive symptoms and social skills. The results of the present study suggest that therapy in the form of athletic activity may increase social competency in children with ADHD, as demonstrated by improved cognitive functions.

Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapy for Treating Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

“…35 In this context, Kang et al demonstrated a positive correlation between physical exercise and improved attention and cognitive symptoms. 36 Second, the elements of motion simulation in EAA/T may influence the improvement in ADHD symptoms. The EQUINE-ASSISTED THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER vestibular system may be stimulated by the child's symmetric and rhythmic body movements while riding a horse.…”

Randomized Controlled Trial of Exercise for ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders

“…Rigorous randomized controlled trials are necessary to establish causal impacts of regular physical activity on ADHD outcomes. To date, one large and two smaller trials have investigated the impact of multi-week physical activity interventions on children with ADHD (8, 20, 21). Unfortunately, none of these studies reported heart rate, provided sufficient levels of activity to meet current guidelines (53), excluded siblings from analyses (sibling pairs are not independent observations), or met CONSORT criteria for reporting of clinical trials (i.e., blind, randomization, power analysis, allocation concealment, specification of primary outcome), thereby limiting interpretation (36).…”

Baduk (the Game of Go) Improved Cognitive Function and Brain Activity in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…However, non-pharmacological behavior modification treatments are also recommended for improving behavioral inhibition deficits and executive dysfunction in ADHD 15. For example, neurofeedback therapy, multimodal psychosocial treatment, school-based programs, working memory training, parent training, and self-monitoring have been introduced and applied as alternative treatments 10,16,17,18,19,20. EEG biofeedback, meditation, channel specific perceptual training, and vestibular stimulation have been applied for ADHD as alternative treatment with a promising prospective evidence 20.…”