The Effect of Water Treadmill Exercise on Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Background :

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the prevalent disorders in child psychiatry with the potential of damage to mental talent evolution process and socio-emotional skills. This study aimed to determine the effect of Water treadmill exercise on children with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  

This was an experimental study with pretest, posttest design which was done in Gorgan. Participants were 46 children (mean age = 9.45 ±0.5, male = gender) who were identified and selected based on diagnostic criteria in two stages and were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (n=23). The experimental group performed running on a Water treadmill for eight weeks with three sessions each week (24 sessions in total) and each session for 30 minutes. The exercise intensity was for 10 minutes 40-45% and 20 minutes 55-65% of the maximum heart rate reserve. All sessions begin with a brief warm-up, including light aerobic activity and dynamic, static stretching, and end with a cool-down. Disorder Levels were measured using the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale-Revised (CPRS-R), and diagnostic interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22.  

The results showed that after controlling the pretest levels, behavior problems, social problems, anxiety-shyness, psychosomatic, and the overall score of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the experimental group were significantly lower the posttest than the control group (p <0.05).  

Based on the results, exercise interventions with Water treadmill for eight weeks effectively reduce the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and can be used as an appropriate intervention.