title: A racket-sport intervention improves behavioral and cognitive performance in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: The present study assessed the effects of a 12-week table tennis exercise on motor skills, social behaviors, and executive functions in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In the first 12-week phase, 16 children (group I) received the intervention, whereas 16 children (group II) did not. A second 12-week phase immediately followed with the treatments reversed. Improvements were observed in executive functions in both groups after the intervention. After the first 12-week phase, some motor and behavioral functions improved in group I. After the second 12-week phase, similar improvements were noted for group II, and the intervention effects achieved in the first phase were persisted in group I. The racket-sport intervention is valuable in promoting motor skills, social behaviors, and executive functions and should be included within the standard-of-care treatment for children with ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, No. 116, He-Ping First Road, Kaohsiung 802, Taiwan. Electronic address: chpan@nknucc.nknu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chien-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, No. 116, He-Ping First Road, Kaohsiung 802, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, No. 116, He-Ping First Road, Kaohsiung 802, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shen-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, No. 116, He-Ping First Road, Kaohsiung 802, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yun-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, No. 116, He-Ping First Road, Kaohsiung 802, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D056344:Executive Function; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D015865:Racquet Sports; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Executive functions; Motor skills; Social behaviors; Table tennis exercise