Acute and chronic effect of physical activity on cognition and behaviour in young people with ADHD: A systematic review of intervention studies

Sara Suarez-Manzano; Alberto Ruiz-Ariza; Manuel De La Torre-Cruz; Emilio J Martínez-López

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2018.03.015

Acute and chronic effect of physical activity on cognition and behaviour in young people with ADHD: A systematic review of intervention studies

Res Dev Disabil. 2018 Jun:77:12-23. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2018.03.015. Epub 2018 Apr 4.

Authors

Sara Suarez-Manzano¹, Alberto Ruiz-Ariza², Manuel De La Torre-Cruz³, Emilio J Martínez-López⁴

Affiliations

¹ Research Group HUM943 Laboratory, Department of Didactic of Body Expression, University of Jaén, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (D-2), Campus Las Lagunillas, 23071, Jaén, Spain. Electronic address: ssuarez@ujaen.es.
² Research Group HUM943 Laboratory, Department of Didactic of Body Expression, University of Jaén, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (D-2), Campus Las Lagunillas, 23071, Jaén, Spain. Electronic address: arariza@ujaen.es.
³ Research Group HUM943 Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Jaén, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (D-2), Campus Las Lagunillas, 23071, Jaén, Spain. Electronic address: majecruz@ujaen.es.
⁴ Research Group HUM943 Laboratory, Department of Didactic of Body Expression, University of Jaén, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (D-2), Campus Las Lagunillas, 23071, Jaén, Spain. Electronic address: emilioml@ujaen.es.

PMID: 29625261
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2018.03.015

Abstract

Background: Young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have learning and behavioral control difficulties.

Aim: The aim of this review is analyse the acute and chronic effect of physical activity (PA) on the cognition and behaviour of children and adolescents with ADHD.

Methods: Studies were identified in five databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, ProQuest, Web of Science, and SCOPUS), from January 2000 through to January 2017. A total of 16 interventional studies met the inclusion criteria.

Results/conclusions: PA practice of 20-30 min (intensity 40-75%) produces a positive acute effect on processing speed, working memory, planning and problem solving in young people with ADHD. However, these effects on behaviour are contradictory and vary depending on age. Chronic PA practice (≥30 min per day, ≥40% intensity, ≥three days per week, ≥five weeks) further improves attention, inhibition, emotional control, behaviour and motor control. The results must be treated with caution, because only 25% of the studies used confounders.

Implication: More research is needed to justify the causes of these effects. It is necessary to establish programs with regard to the duration, intensity, kind of exercise, and time of PA to improve cognition and behaviour in young people with ADHD taking into account potential confounders.

Keywords: Adolescent; Attention deficit; Cognitive performance; Confounder; Physical exercise; Physical fitness.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Age Factors
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology*
Child
Cognition*
Exercise / psychology*
Humans
Memory, Short-Term*
Problem Solving*