Table 1 Summary of studies investigating the effects of regular moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise in children with ADHD

Kang et al. 2011 [31]

RCT (exercise versus education for behavior control*)

n = 28

Twice a week during 6 consecutive weeks, moderate to vigorous intensity

Korean ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS-PT), Digit Symbol and Trail-Making Test (TMT-B)

Greater improvement in attention symptoms, cognitive functioning and cooperativeness scores compared to control group.

(28 male)

Mean age 8.6 years

Chang et al. 2014 [32]

Controlled , non-randomized (exercise versus no exercise)

n = 27

Twice a week during 8 consecutive weeks, moderate intensity aquatic exercise

Basic Motor Ability Test Revised (BMAT), Go/NoGo Task

Greater improvements in accuracy associated with NoGo stimulus and coordination of motor skills compared to control group.

(23 male)

5-10 years

Verret et al. 2012 [33]

Controlled, non-randomized (exercise versus no exercise)

n = 21

3 times a week during 10 consecutive weeks, moderate to vigorous intensity

Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Test of Everyday Attention for Children (Tea-Ch)

Greater improvements in behavior reports by parents and teachers, information processing and auditory sustained attention compared to control group.

(19 male)

7-12 years

Smith et al. 2013 [34]

Open study,

n = 14

8 weeks of daily moderate-to-vigorous intensity

Broad range of measures including subtests from Wechsler preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-R), Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning (WRAML-2), Woodcock-Johnson III Test of Cognitive Abilities (WJ-III).

Largest Improvements in response inhibition / impulsiveness and behavior reports by parents, staff and teachers compared to pre-exercise levels.

No control group

(6 male)

5-8 years