A worldwide increase in research on exercise interventions for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) indicates that it is a promising alternative or compliment to standard treatment, showing potential to help with symptom management, according to a study published in Medicine.
The symptoms and associated comorbidities of ADHD can have broad repercussions, leading to social and mental health issues, and reduced academic performance and occupational success. While medications are one of the treatment options, in some cases, they may not be well tolerated or result in sufficient effectiveness. Consequently, research is exploring non-pharmacologic alternatives to mitigate the impact of prolonged psychostimulant use.
Earlier studies suggest that physical activity may offer an array of benefits for ADHD, including improvements in attention span, selective attention, motor skills, inhibition, executive function, and cognitive flexibility. To understand current knowledge and predict future trends of physical activity interventions for ADHD, the researchers undertook a bibliometric review of 569 studies conducted from January 1, 2000 to June 12, 2024. Of the 331 countries and regions publishing research on the topic, more than 48% came from the US.