BACKGROUND: Physical activity interventions positively influence executive functions in both the general population and individuals with ADHD. However, there is limited research focusing on school-aged children, who have the highest ADHD diagnosis rates. This study aims to provide targeted intervention strategies for improving executive function in this population, offering a practical reference for selecting specific exercise types when designing interventions for children with ADHD.
METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant RCTs up to September 2023. Two independent reviewers handled literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Stata 15.1 software was used for the meta-analysis.
RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 19 studies, revealing that physical activity interventions significantly improved executive functions in school-aged children with ADHD. Cognitive flexibility (SMD=0.70, 95% CI: 0.09, 1.31) and working memory (SMD=0.74, 95% CI: 0.20, 1.28) showed moderate to large effects, while inhibition switching had a small to medium effect (SMD=-0.35, 95% CI: -0.74, 0.03). Subgroup analysis indicated that cognitively engaging exercises were more effective, with intervention outcomes moderated by duration, frequency, and length.
LIMITATION: Inconsistent measurement tools among the included studies may introduce biases.
CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity interventions are effective in enhancing executive functions in school-aged children with ADHD. Cognitively engaging exercises show the most promise, especially when tailored by intervention duration, frequency, and length.
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