Effects of physical activity in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - literature review

Uvod: Motnja pozornosti s hiperaktivnostjo (ADHD) je pogosta razvojna nevrološka motnja, ki se diagnosticira pri otrocih, običajno pa se nadaljuje tudi v mladostništvu in odraslosti. Glavni simptomi so težje ohranjanje pozornosti, hiperaktivnost in impulzivnost. Poleg tega imajo lahko osebe z ADHD težave na spoznavnem, socialnem in gibalnem področju. Ker imajo zdravila veliko stranskih učinkov, se telesna dejavnost zdi primernejša izbira za terapijo. Namen: Namen diplomskega dela je na podlagi pregleda literature ugotoviti, kakšne učinke imajo različne oblike telesne dejavnosti na spoznavno delovanje, gibalne spretnosti, telesno pripravljenost in vedenjske simptome otrok z omenjeno motnjo, in podati predloge za nadaljnje raziskovanje. Metode dela: Iskanje literature je potekalo v elektronski podatkovni bazi Physiotherapy Evidence Database. Vključili smo šest raziskav na temo učinkov telesne dejavnosti pri otrocih z ADHD. Rezultati: Vadbeni program za kognitivno rehabilitacijo, vadbeni program s ciljno usmerjenimi vajami, rekreativni plavalni vadbeni program in skakanje na trampolinu so imeli statistično značilne pozitivne učinke na izvršilne funkcije otrok z ADHD. Simulirani razvojni program jahanja konja in visoko intenzivna intervalna vadba sta imela pri otrocih z ADHD statistično značilne pozitivne učinke na gibalne spretnosti in telesno pripravljenost. Vadbeni program za kognitivno rehabilitacijo je statistično značilno pozitivno učinkoval tudi na vedenjske simptome otrok z ADHD. Razprava in zaključek: Vadbeni programi so se med seboj razlikovali v parametrih in vsebini. Največje učinke pri izvršilnih funkcijah so dosegli vadbeni programi, ki so vključevali kognitivne naloge, ciljno usmerjene vaje in plavanje. Na gibalne spretnosti in telesno pripravljenost sta najbolje učinkovala vadbeni program s pestrim naborom gibalnih nalog in visoko intenzivna intervalna vadba. Vadbeni program za kognitivno rehabilitacijo je bil učinkovit pri izboljšanju vedenjskih simptomov ADHD. Telesna dejavnost je ključnega pomena za zdrav način življenja in dobro počutje, zato je njena uporaba smiselna, zlasti če izboljša vedenjske simptome in težave otrok z ADHD. Kljub pomanjkljivostim tega diplomskega dela (majhno število vključenih raziskav, ena podatkovna baza, le opisna primerjava raziskav) imajo naše ugotovitve praktično vrednost, saj lahko omenjene vadbene programe uporabijo strokovnjaki v praksi, ko delajo z otroki z ADHD.Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that is diagnosed in children and usually persists into adolescence and adulthood. The main symptoms are difficulty maintaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In addition, people with ADHD may have cognitive, social, and motor difficulties. As medications have many side effects, physical activity seems to be a more appropriate choice for therapy. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to review the literature to identify the effects of different forms of physical activity on cognitive functioning, motor skills, physical fitness and behavioural symptoms in children with ADHD and to make suggestions for further research. Methods: The literature search was conducted in the electronic Physiotherapy Evidence Database. Six studies on the effects of physical activity in children with ADHD were included. Results: Exercise for cognitive impairment and rehabilitation, the goal-oriented exercise programme, the recreational swimming exercise programme and trampoline jumping had statistically significant positive effects on executive functions in children with ADHD. The simulated developmental horse-riding programme and high-intensity interval training had statistically significant positive effects on motor skills and physical fitness in children with ADHD. Exercise for cognitive impairment and rehabilitation also had a statistically significant positive effect on the behavioural symptoms of children with ADHD. Discussion and conclusion: The exercise programmes varied in parameters and content. The greatest effects on executive functions were achieved with exercise programmes that included cognitive tasks, goal-directed exercises, and swimming. For motor skills and physical fitness, the best effects were achieved by an exercise programme with a wide range of motor tasks and high-intensity interval training. An exercise programme with cognitive tasks was effective in improving ADHD symptoms. Physical activity is key to a healthy lifestyle and well-being, so its use makes sense, especially if it improves the symptoms and problems of children with ADHD. Despite the shortcomings of this thesis (small number of included studies, single database, only descriptive comparison of studies), our findings have practical value as the exercise programmes mentioned can be used by practitioners when working with children with ADHD