The Effect of Aerobic Trainings on Attention and Perceptual-Motor Abilities of Preschool Boys with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: A Short Report

Research evidence supports the effectiveness of physical activity and exercises. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aerobic trainings on attention and perceptual-motor abilities in preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

In this quasi-experimental study, 30 boys from preschool centers in Ardakan City of Yazd Province were selected and randomly divided into two groups in 2020-2021 academic year. The experimental group received 18 sessions of 50-minute aerobic training. The Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and the Lincoln-Oseretsky test were used in both pre-test and post-test stages. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and paired t-test.

The results showed that the experimental group had better scores in the post-test of attention (p=0.014) and perceptual-motor abilities (p=0.036) compared to the pre-test.

It seems that in addition to various rehabilitation programs, aerobic exercise training can be used as a complementary program.