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 .
[The prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children and adolescents in Germany. Initial results from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS)].
The cardinal symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) are inattention , hyperactivity and impulsivity . Etiologically , ADHD is mainly put down to genetic causes ; it entails a considerable range of psychosocial problems for those affected and their social environment . The parents of a total of 7,569 boys ( B ) and 7,267 girls ( G ) aged 3 - 17 who took part in the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents ( KiGGS ) answered a self-administered question naire including an ADHD diagnosis question and the  Strengths and Difficulties Question naire ( SDQ )  . In addition behavioural observations of 7,919 children ( aged 3 - 11 ) were carried out during the medical and physical tests . Participants whose parents reported that they had ever been given an ADHD diagnosis by a doctor or psychologist were classified as ADHD cases . Participants were classified as suspected cases of ADHD if they had a value of > or = 7 on the SDQ inattention/hyperactivity scale . ADHD had ever been diagnosed in 4.8 % of the children and adolescents altogether ( B : 7.7 % , G : 1.8 % ) . Another 4.9 % of the participants can be considered as suspected cases . Already 1.8 % of the preschoolers had been given an ADHD diagnosis . At primary school age ( 7 - 10 years old ) the frequency of diagnosis rises sharply . At age 11 - 17 , ADHD had ever been diagnosed in 1 in 10 boys and 1 in 43 girls . ADHD had been diagnosed significantly more frequently among participants of low socio-economic status ( SES ) than among participants of high SES . A diagnosis of ADHD is reported less often for migrants , they rank more frequently among the suspected cases . The discrepancy between confirmed and suspected cases of ADHD among migrants may point to lower diagnosis rates or lower utilization of medical services . The short- and long-term medical , social and health-economic effects of ADHD illustrate the major public health relevance of the disorder . As for prevention , the high share of genetic factors in ADHD etiology primarily suggests secondary prevention ( early support and early diagnosis ) and tertiary prevention measures . Further analysis of the KiGGS data could prospect ively identify risk groups more precisely and refine preventional approaches
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 .