The effect of intelligent monitoring of physical exercise on executive function in children with ADHD

TL;DR

This study addresses executive function (EF) and motor deficits in children with ADHD and evaluates non-pharmacological PA as a safe alternative to drugs. In a randomized controlled design, three 12-week PA programs were compared: EG1 (specific skill training), EG2 (low-demand PA), and CG (no structured PA), with measures of Verbal and Visuospatial Working Memory and motor coordination, aided by smart monitoring. Results show that EG1 yields immediate improvements in hand-eye coordination and long-term WM gains (e.g., digit span, letter-number sequencing) with about a 15% improvement and p < 0.05, while EG2 and CG have smaller effects and short-term gains in balance/dexterity are limited. The findings support PA, particularly targeted skill training, as a promising non-drug intervention for ADHD, though larger samples and explicit assessment of inhibitory control are needed in future work, potentially aided by neuroimaging.

Abstract

Children with ADHD often struggle with executive function (EF) and motor skills, impacting their academics and social life. While medications are commonly used, they have side effects, leading to interest in non-drug treatments. Physical activity (PA) has shown promise in improving cognitive and motor skills in children with ADHD. This study examined the short- and long-term effects of three PA interventions: a specific skill training group (EG1), a low-demand exercise group (EG2), and a control group (CG) over 12 weeks. EG1 showed significant improvements in motor tasks and working memory (15\% improvement, p<0.05), while EG2 and CG showed smaller changes. Long-term PA improved working memory, but short-term PA had limited effects on balance and manual dexterity. These findings suggest that skill training has an immediate impact on motor performance, while more complex motor skills require longer interventions. Smart devices tracked progress, confirming sustained engagement and improvement in EG1. This research highlights PA as a promising non-pharmacological treatment for ADHD, warranting further exploration of its effects on other cognitive domains.

Figures (7)

• Figure 1: Smart monitoring example diagram.
• Figure 2: Short-term intervention effects of capture and targeting tasks.
• Figure 3: Long-term intervention effects of a digital photometry task.
• Figure 4: Long-term intervention effects on a letter-number sequencing task.
• Figure 5: EG1-Catching and Aiming Improvement.