Comparison of the effects of vestibular stimulation exercises and rotational exercises on cognitive and motor dual balance function of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Recently, non-pharmacological treatments, especially the cognitive rehabilitation treatment approach, have been given attention to improve the structures and functions involved in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The purpose of this research was to compare the effect of vestibular stimulation exercises and rotational exercises on the dual cognitive and motor balance function of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

In this research, 24 children aged 8-11 years with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Khorramabad city were randomly selected and divided into three equal groups of vestibular stimulation exercises, rotation exercises, and control. For 6 weeks (three one-hour sessions per week), the experimental groups were subjected to the intervention of selected vestibular and rotational stimulation exercises. The control group did not do any physical activity during this period. A timed standing up and moving test by holding a cup of water in the hand was used to evaluate motor-balance performance and counting 15 numbers randomly was used to evaluate cognitive-balance performance. To analyze the data, dependent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey's post hoc test were used (taking into account type 1 error, α = 5%).

vestibular stimulation exercises and rotational exercises had a significant effect on the dual cognitive and motor balance function of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (P=0.001); However, no significant difference was observed between the effects of the above two types of exercises on the dual cognitive and motor balance function of the subjects. Conclusion Both vestibular and rotational stimulation exercises had a significant and similar effect on improving motor (P=0.86) and cognitive (P=0.93) dual balance function of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.