The Poomsae in Taekwondo is an effective therapy for executive function in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is pathology of genetic and neurological etiology and results in significant impairment of social and academic activity among children. Martial arts play an important role in the development of cognition especially among children with ADHD. The cognitive complexity of physical activity in Taekwondo Training Program is exemplified in poomsae (“forms”), which is a series of choreographic physical movements performed with technical precision in a particular order. Executive functions are the neuropsychological processes that underlie self-regulation. They allow the person to coordinate all of his behavior in a flexible and precise manner, according to the ever-changing demands of his environment as well as of his personal state. They are highly dependent on inhibition processes for their proper functioning. In this context the objective of this research was to investigate the impact of Taekwondo Training on executive function in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). First, paired and independent sample t-Tests were performed to compare the attention and executive function of the two groups before and after the Taekwondo Training Program. Subsequently, independent sample t-tests were performed to compare the performance of the Taekwondo group (TKD) and the control group at Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2). The results presented indicate that the Poomsae Movement and Technique Training Program resulted in a significant difference in performance in working memory tasks (MTN1 and MTN2) (WAIS-IV) (M = 0.58) (M = 3.41). ) (η2 = 0.41) after the procedure. Also, the total executive flexibility task score N1 (Stroop) was significantly higher in the TKD group (M = 1.99) than in the control group (M = 4.32) (η2 = 0.20). In addition, the total score for the other cognitive flexibility task N2 (Stroop) was significant in the TKD group (M = 6.40) compared to the control group (M = 11.21) (η2 = 0.19). The results presented indicate that the Poomsae Movement and Technique Training Program also resulted in a significant difference in the performance of selective visual attention and mental flexibility tasks between the TKD group and control groups in T2. At the level of selective visual attention, the number of errors is significantly lower in the experimental group (M = 2.58) than in those who did not (M = 5.69). With respect to executive functions, the number of errors in the task of mental flexibility is significantly lower in the TKD group that received the Training Program (M = 1.86) than in the control group (M = 2), 93) (η2 = 0.40). In summary, a significant improvement in the rates of errors in selective visual attention tasks and cognitive flexibility is observed between T1 and T2 in the TKD group. In conclusion, the Poomsae Movement and Technique Training Program can help children with ADHD improve their cognitive function. Teens with ADHD also showed a high rate of adherence (100%) to Taekwondo Training. Our results suggest that Taekwondo Training Program can be a fun, feasible and effective therapeutic option for children with ADHD.