Objective: To detect the impact of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with acupuncture on the attention function of mentally-retarded adolescents from the three dimensions of attention concentration, attention transfer and attention span.
Methods: A total of 48 adolescents with mild to moderate mental disabilities were recruited. The participants were randomly divided into four groups: control group (C), Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture group (M), moderate-intensity aerobic exercise group (E) and exercise and acupuncture combined intervention group (J). Before and after the experimental intervention, the participant's height, weight and attention ability were measured.
Results: The improved range of attention total duration of the J group after the intervention was significantly higher than that of the E and M groups (0.05), whereas that of the latter groups was significantly higher compared to that of the C group ( 0.05). The J group showed significantly higher ( 0.05) attention span values after the intervention compared to the E, M and C groups. The C group did not show a significant difference in attention transfer at 12 weeks compared to before intervention (0.05), whereas the E, M and J groups increased significantly ( 0.05) after intervention than the C group.
Conclusions: Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with acupuncture can more effectively improve the attention concentration and attention span of mentally-retarded adolescents than aerobic exercise or acupuncture alone.
Keywords: acupuncture; adolescent; attention function; exercise; intellectual disability; randomised controlled trial.