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NCT Number: NCT04279652

Exercise in Children Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by carelessness, hyperactivity and impulsivity, in which genetic, social and physical factors play an important role. Few studies have revealed the physical activity levels and importance of children with ADHD, but there is no consensus on the components of the physical activity program such as intensity, frequency, and severity. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of combined exercise training on motor proficiency, physical fitness and cognitive status in children with ADHD.

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Key information

Conditions

ADHD Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Behavior Exercise Mental Disorders Motor Activity Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Age range

7 year–12 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Hacettepe University

Ankara, 06100, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

The aim of present study is to investigate the effect of combined exercise training on motor proficiency, physical fitness and cognitive status in children with ADHD. Children will be randomly divided into 3 groups, for 8 weeks the first group will undergo a combined exercise training under the supervision of a physiotherapist, while the second group will receive a home exercise program. children included in the third group will form the control group.

The following assessments will be applied at the beginning and end of treatment.

  • Revised Conners Parent Rating Scale Short Turkish Form
  • Powers and Challenges Survey
  • Edinburgh Hand Preference Survey
  • Two-minute walking test
  • Ten meter walking test
  • Munich Fitness Test
  • Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test-2
  • Muscle strength evaluation
  • Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment
  • Open-ended questions

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Having been diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-V (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V) diagnostic criteria,
  • Being between the ages of 7-12,
  • Right hand being dominant according to Edinburgh Hand Preference Questionnaire,
  • After the purpose of the study and the procedures to be explained, both the child and his family agree to participate in the study,
  • An appropriate drug treatment program has been organized by the psychiatrist,
  • The absence of a contraindicated condition to exercise in physical and medical examination.

Exclusion criteria

  • A major psychiatric and / or neurodevelopmental problem accompanying,
  • A history of head injury or chronic neurological disease,
  • Having additional medical diseases that require medication,
  • Any changes made in the psychiatric drug treatment by the attending physician for the last 1 month,
  • Have participated in a regular exercise program or sporting activity for the past 6 months.

Treatment and study plan

Combined exercise

Other

Combined exercise program consists of 5 min warm-up exercises, 20 min aerobic exercise, 20 min balance-coordination exercises, 10 min strengthening exercises and 5 min cooling exercises.

Primary outcomes

  1. Motor Proficiency

    Time frame: 45 minutes

    Motor proficiency will be evaluated The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition (BOT™-2). t contains subtests and challenging game-like tasks and is very easy to administer. the score of this test ranges from 0 to 322. Higher score indicates better motor proficiency

  2. Cognitive assessment

    Time frame: 90 minutes

    Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (DOTCA-Ch) battery for children allows to evaluate cognitive skills in 5 main topics: orientation, spatial perception, praxis, visual-motor organization and thinking processes.

  3. Physical Fitness

    Time frame: 15 minutes

    Munich Fitness Test

Secondary outcomes

  1. Behavior Disorders

    Time frame: 5 minutes

    Conners Parent Rating Scale consists of 27 items in total. In this scale, questions are answered on a 4-point Likert scale. "Never", "rarely", "often" and "always" options are; It is scored as "0", "1", "2" and "3". High scores from the scale show the intensity of symptoms specific to destructive disorders

  2. Behaviour characteristics

    Time frame: 5 minutes

    Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire - (SDQ) "contains 25 questions, some of which question positive and some negative behavior characteristics. Each sub-title can be evaluated within itself and a separate score can be obtained for each, as well as the sum of the first four titles and the" Total Strength Score ".

  3. Hand dominance

    Time frame: 5 minutes

    Edinburgh Hand Preference Questionnaire was developed to determine the hand preferences of the persons.The sum of the right and left hand scores gives "Cumulative Total (TC)" and subtracting the left hand score from the right hand score gives "Difference score (F)". The result score is obtained by dividing the difference score by the cumulative total score and multiplying it by the face. Result score; It can be interpreted that if the person is less than 40, the person is left dominant, and between -40 and 40, each bilateral dominant, and if greater than 40, the person is right dominant.

  4. gait endurance

    Time frame: 4 minutes

    2-minute walking test will be used to determine walking endurance. In this test, a distance of 50 feet (15.2 meters) in length is determined first. The evaluator marks each 10 foot long distance with markers, leaving a cone at the beginning and end of the total distance.

  5. muscle strength

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    Isometric muscle strength will be evaluated by hand dynamometer. Care is taken to repeat 3 times at short intervals during measurements. The highest value will be used for analysis. 4 muscle groups, including shoulder abductors, grip strength, hip flexors and ankle dorsi flexors, will be evaluated bilaterally.

  6. 10 meter walking test

    Time frame: 2 minutes

    Walking speed

  7. Open ended questions

    Time frame: 15 minutes

    these questions for social cooperation and behaviour

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hacettepe University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effects of Combined Exercise Program in Children Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Feb 21, 2020
Registry last updated
Dec 29, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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