Overall , the studies review ed were of moderate-to-high quality and reported benefits of a variety of exercise programmes in improving motor skills , physical fitness , attention and social behaviour in children with ADHD .
However , there was limited information regarding school-based programmes , the effects of structured exercise programmes independently or in combination with cognitive-based therapies , and the long-term benefits of exercises in alleviating behavioural problems in these children
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) are educated in classrooms along with typically developing children .
Those with ADHD , however , find it difficult to participate in routine educational and recreational activities as they encounter problems associated with behaviour , attention , motor skills and physical endurance .
Traditionally , the management of children with ADHD has focussed primarily on problems with cognition and has been heavily dependent on pharmaceutical interventions and , to a lesser extent , on non-pharmaceutical measures .
More recently , experts have increasingly advocated the use of exercises in alleviating symptoms associated with ADHD .
The primary objective of this review was to summarize research that examined the role of exercises on deficits related to attention , motor skills and fitness in children with ADHD .
Children With Attention Deficits Concentrate Better After Walk in the Park
Objective : In the general population , attention is reliably enhanced after exposure to certain physical environments , particularly natural environments . This study examined the impacts of environments on attention in children with ADHD . Method : In this within subjects design , each participant experienced each of three treatments ( environments ) in single blind controlled trials . Seventeen children 7 to12 years old professionally diagnosed with ADHD experienced each of three environments — a city park and two other well-kept urban setting s — via individually guided 20-minute walks . Environments were experienced 1 week apart , with r and omized assignment to treatment order . After each walk , concentration was measured using Digit Span Backwards . Results : Children with ADHD  concentrated better after the walk in the park than after the downtown walk ( p = .0229 ) or the neighborhood walk ( p = .0072 ) . Effect sizes were substantial ( Cohen 's d = .52 and .77 , respectively ) and comparable to those reported for recent formulations of methylpheni date . Conclusion : Twenty minutes in a park setting was sufficient to elevate attention performance relative to the same amount of time in other setting s. These findings indicate that environments can enhance attention not only in the general population but also in ADHD population s. “ Doses of nature ” might serve as a safe , inexpensive , widely accessible new tool in the tool kit for managing ADHD symptoms . ( J. of Att . Dis . 2009 ; 12(5 ) 402 - 409
Overall , the studies review ed were of moderate-to-high quality and reported benefits of a variety of exercise programmes in improving motor skills , physical fitness , attention and social behaviour in children with ADHD .
However , there was limited information regarding school-based programmes , the effects of structured exercise programmes independently or in combination with cognitive-based therapies , and the long-term benefits of exercises in alleviating behavioural problems in these children
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) are educated in classrooms along with typically developing children .
Those with ADHD , however , find it difficult to participate in routine educational and recreational activities as they encounter problems associated with behaviour , attention , motor skills and physical endurance .
Traditionally , the management of children with ADHD has focussed primarily on problems with cognition and has been heavily dependent on pharmaceutical interventions and , to a lesser extent , on non-pharmaceutical measures .
More recently , experts have increasingly advocated the use of exercises in alleviating symptoms associated with ADHD .
The primary objective of this review was to summarize research that examined the role of exercises on deficits related to attention , motor skills and fitness in children with ADHD .