Motor performance in children and adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review

Nathacha Garcés; Angel Jara; Felipe Montalva-Valenzuela; Claudio Farías-Valenzuela; Gerson Ferrari; Paloma Ferrero-Hernández; Antonio Castillo-Paredes; Nathacha Garcés; Angel Jara; Felipe Montalva-Valenzuela; Claudio Farías-Valenzuela; Gerson Ferrari; Paloma Ferrero-Hernández; Antonio Castillo-Paredes

doi:10.3934/medsci.2025017

AIMS Medical Science

2025, Volume 12, Issue 2: 247-267. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2025017

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Review

Motor performance in children and adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review

1.
Escuela de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
2.
Laboratorio de Fisiología del Ejercicio y Metabolismo (LABFEM), Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Finis Terrae, Santiago, Chile
3.
Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Providencia, Chile
4.
Vicerrectoría de Investigación e Innovación, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile

Received: 04 June 2025 Revised: 04 June 2025 Accepted: 05 June 2025 Published: 19 June 2025

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) manifests itself in inattention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity. Those affected with ADHD have high motor coordination or motor performance problems, which presents as a daily difficulty. On the other hand, physical activity can produce motor benefits and ADHD symptomatology. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to analyze the effects of physical activity, sport, exercise, play or physical education interventions on the motor performance of children and adolescents with ADHD (registry: INPLASY202370105). The databases PubMed (87), Scopus (133), WoS (126), and SciELO (0) were searched using the keywords “Children” OR “Adolescent” AND “ADHD” OR “attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder” OR “attention deficit hyperactivity disorder” AND “Motor skills” OR “Motor coordination” OR “Motor Performance” OR “Motor impairment” AND “Physical activity” OR “Exercise” OR “Sports” OR “Physical Education” OR “Play” OR “Pretend play”. 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. The PEDro scale and risk of bias were used to evaluate the methodological quality of the selected articles. Benefits were evidenced in motor skills, cognitive functions, executive functions, and academic and social performance in children and adolescents with ADHD.
- motor performance,
- attentional deficit,
- hyperactivity,
- children,
- adolescents,
- physical activity,
- exercise,
- sport
Citation: Nathacha Garcés, Angel Jara, Felipe Montalva-Valenzuela, Claudio Farías-Valenzuela, Gerson Ferrari, Paloma Ferrero-Hernández, Antonio Castillo-Paredes. Motor performance in children and adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review[J]. AIMS Medical Science, 2025, 12(2): 247-267. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2025017

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Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) manifests itself in inattention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity. Those affected with ADHD have high motor coordination or motor performance problems, which presents as a daily difficulty. On the other hand, physical activity can produce motor benefits and ADHD symptomatology. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to analyze the effects of physical activity, sport, exercise, play or physical education interventions on the motor performance of children and adolescents with ADHD (registry: INPLASY202370105). The databases PubMed (87), Scopus (133), WoS (126), and SciELO (0) were searched using the keywords “Children” OR “Adolescent” AND “ADHD” OR “attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder” OR “attention deficit hyperactivity disorder” AND “Motor skills” OR “Motor coordination” OR “Motor Performance” OR “Motor impairment” AND “Physical activity” OR “Exercise” OR “Sports” OR “Physical Education” OR “Play” OR “Pretend play”. 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. The PEDro scale and risk of bias were used to evaluate the methodological quality of the selected articles. Benefits were evidenced in motor skills, cognitive functions, executive functions, and academic and social performance in children and adolescents with ADHD.

Acknowledgments

Beca de Magister Nacional, Año Académico 2022, folio 22220751, ANID, Chile. The present research received financial support from Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), POSTDOC_DICYT, grant #032304DF_Postdoc.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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