Effects of Physical Activity Intervention on Motor Proficiency and Physical Fitness in Children With ADHD: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Objective: This study explored how a 12-week simulated developmental horse-riding program (SDHRP) combined with fitness training influenced the motor proficiency and physical fitness of children with ADHD. Method: Twelve children with ADHD received the intervention, whereas 12 children with ADHD and 24 typically developing (TD) children did not. The fitness levels and motor skills of the participants were assessed using standardized tests before and after the 12-week training program. Results: Significant improvements were observed in the motor proficiency, cardiovascular fitness, and flexibility of the ADHD training group following the intervention. Conclusion: Children with ADHD exhibit low levels of motor proficiency and cardiovascular fitness; thus, using the combined 12-week SDHRP and fitness training positively affected children with ADHD.

Keywords

ADHD physical activity motor performance physical fitness.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Ayaz

A. B.

Ayaz

Yazgan

Akın

(2013). The relationship between motor coordination and social behavior problems in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 23,33-41.

Barkley

R. A.

(1997). ADHD and the nature of self-control. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Barnett

L. M.

van Beurden

Morgan

P. J.

Brooks

L. O.

Beard

J. R.

(2008). Does childhood motor skill proficiency predict adolescent fitness. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 40, 2137-2144.

Bass

M. M.

Duchowny

C. A.

Llabre

M. M.

(2009). The effect of therapeutic horseback riding on social functioning in children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 1261-1267.

Beyer

(1999). Motor proficiency of boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and boys with learning disabilities. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 16, 403-414.

Biederman

(2005). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A selective overview. Biological Psychiatry, 57, 1215-1220.

Bledsoe

J. C.

Semrud-Clikeman

Piliszka

S. R.

(2010). Response inhibition and academic abilities in typically developing children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder-combined subtype. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 25, 671-679.

10.

Bruininks

R. H.

Bruininks

B. D.

(2005). Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (2nd ed.). Minneapolis, MN: NCS Pearson.

11.

Cheng

L. Y.

(2008). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Test: A method for identifying individuals with ADHD (in the Chinese language). Taipei, Taiwan: Psychological Publishing.

12.

Gilliam

J. E.

(1995). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Test: A method for identifying individuals with ADHD. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

13.

Harvey

W. J.

Fagan

Kassis

(2003). Enabling students with ADHD to use self-control in physical activities. PALAESTRA, 19(3), 32-35.

14.

Harvey

W. J.

Reid

(1997). Motor performance of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A preliminary investigation. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 14, 189-202.

15.

Harvey

W. J.

Reid

(2003). A review of fundamental movement skill performance and physical fitness of children with ADHD. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 20, 1-25.

16.

Harvey

W. J.

Reid

Bloom

G. A.

Kerri

Grizenko

Mbekou

. . .Joober

(2009). Physical activity experiences of boys with and without ADHD. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 26, 131-150.

17.

Harvey

W. J.

Reid

Grizenko

Mbekou

Ter-Stepanian

Joober

(2007). Fundamental movement skills and children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Peer comparisons and stimulant effects. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 35, 871-882.

18.

Liavasani

N. M.

Stagnitti

(2013). A study on fine motor skills of Iranian children with attention deficit/hyper activity disorder aged from 6 to 11 years. Occupational Therapy International, 18, 106-114.

19.

Lopez-Williams

Chacko

Wymbs

B. T.

Fabiano

G. A.

Seymour

K. E.

Ganagy

E. M.

. . .Morris

T. L.

(2005). Athletic performance and social behavior as predictors of peer acceptance in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 13, 173-180.

20.

Mao

T. Y.

Lin

K. F.

(2006). Research and development of 20m multistage shuttle run test. Journal of Exercise Physiology & Fitness, 4, 55-64.

21.

Morano

Colella

Robazza

Bortoli

Capranica

(2011). Physical self-perception and motor performance in normal-weight, overweight and obese children. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 21, 465-473.

22.

Morrow

J. R.

Jackson

A. W.

Disch

J. G.

Mood

D. P.

(2000). Measurement and evaluation in human performance. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

23.

Noble

(1981). Effects of various types of sit-ups on iEMG of the abdominal musculature. Journal of Human Movement Studies, 7, 124-130.

24.

Pan

C. Y.

(2014). Motor proficiency and physical fitness in adolescent males with and without autism spectrum disorders. Autism: International Journal of Research and Practice, 18, 156-165.

25.

Pan

C. Y.

Tsai

C. L.

Chu

C. H.

(2009). Fundamental movement skills in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 1694-1705.

26.

Pitcher

T. M.

Piek

J. P.

Hay

D. A.

(2003). Fine and gross motor ability in males with ADHD. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 45, 525-535.

27.

Scharoun

S. M.

Bryden

P. J.

Otipkova

Musalek

Lejcarova

(2013). Motor skills in Czech children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and their neurotypical counterparts. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34, 4142-4153.

28.

Skinner

R. A.

Piek

J. P.

(2001). Psychosocial implications of poor motor coordination in children and adolescents. Human Movement Science, 20, 73-94.

29.

Smith

A. L.

Hoza

Linnea

McQuade

J. D.

Tomb

Vaughn

A. J.

. . .Hook

(2013). Pilot physical activity intervention reduces severity of ADHD symptoms in young children. Journal of Attention Disorders, 17, 70-82.

30.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1996). Physical activity and health: A report of the surgeon general. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

31.

Verret

Gardiner

Beliveau

(2010). Fitness level and gross motor performance of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 27, 337-351.

32.

Verret

Guay

Berthiaume

Gardiner

Beliveau

(2012). A physical activity program improves behavior and cognitive functions in children with ADHD: An exploratory study. Journal of Attention Disorders, 16, 71-80.

33.

Winnick

J. P.

Short

F. X.

(1999). The BROCKPORT Physical Fitness Test Manual. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

34.

Wuang

Y. P.

Wang

C. C.

Huang

M. H.

C. Y.

(2010). The effectiveness of simulated developmental horse-riding program in children with autism. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 27, 113-126.

35.

Yang

Mao

Zhang

Zhao

(2013). Prevalence of obesity and overweight among Chinese children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A survey in Zhejiang Province, China. BMC Psychiatry, 13, 1-7.