Is Physical Activity Good Medicine for Children and Youth with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? Which Aspects Could Influence Outcomes? an Umbrella Review

ABSTRACT

This umbrella review addresses the relation between physical activity (PA) for children and youth with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and positive outcomes. A systematic literature search in Medline, PsychInfo, and ERIC revealed 338 records, and 20 review articles were included in the analysis. The review articles referred to 130 different and mainly small empirical studies. Overall, the reviews suggest that PA can function as an effective intervention for children and youth with ADHD on: 1) cognition, 2) social-emotion and behavioural regulation, 3) fitness and motor control, and 4) neural function. However, results are mixed and the quality of the intervention (intensity, duration, frequency, length and type of exercise), participant and environmental characteristics, and relational aspects are discussed here as aspects that could affect the outcome.

KEYWORDS:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• ADHD
• cognition
• exercise
• physical activity
• Social-emotional
• sport

Acknowledgements

The author expresses gratitude to VIA University College that made this article possible, and to the team of researchers who gave their encouragement, support, and feedback on the work: Jens-Ole Jensen, Mette Munk, Esben Volshøj, Kasper Lasthein Madsen, Ole Lund, Henrik Taarsted Jørgensen, Michael Blume, Anders Halling, Flemming Nørgaard and Lise Majgaard Mortensen at VIA University College, Aarhus, Denmark.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Forty-nine of these studies were presented in one review solely: The review of Harvey and Reid (2003).