Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Best exercise types to improve thinking skills in kids with ADHD
By Yang Z et al.·2026·Department of Leisure Services Sports, South Korea·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Exercise prescription to improve executive functioning in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a network meta-analysis.
Plain-English summary
This study looked at how different types of exercise might help improve thinking skills in children and teenagers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Researchers reviewed 21 studies involving nearly 1,500 participants aged 7 to 18 years. They found that skill-based exercises, like sports or games that require specific skills, were better than just aerobic exercises (like running or cycling) for improving things like self-control and the ability to switch between tasks. They also noted that combining different types of exercise helped with memory. While the findings suggest that moderate skill-based exercise could be beneficial in about 6 to 10 weeks, and aerobic exercise might help memory in about 4 to 5 weeks, more research is needed to understand how different factors affect these outcomes.
Abstract
<h4>Objective</h4>This study employs a network meta-analysis to investigate the potential effects of exercise type, duration, frequency, intensity, and cycle on executive functions (inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility) in children and adolescents with ADHD, thereby providing directional insights for future research.<h4>Methods</h4>Five databases were systematically searched up to February 1, 2025, yielding 21 RCTs (n = 1,491) involving participants aged 7-18 years. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane tools. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) were used as effect measures, while SUCRA was used for probability ranking and GRADE for evidence quality grading.<h4>Results</h4>Skill-based exercise outperformed isolated aerobic exercise in inhibitory control (SMD = 0.73, 95% CI 0.31-1.41) and cognitive flexibility (SMD = 3.08, 95% CI 0.52-5.63). Combined exercise outperformed controls in working memory (SMD = 0.73, 95% CI 0.35-1.12). SUCRA ranking indicated the highest cumulative probability for skill-based exercise in inhibitory control (95.8) and cognitive flexibility (95.5), while aerobic exercise had the highest probability for working memory (87.1). Sensitivity analyses indicated that estimates for cognitive flexibility were significantly influenced by individual studies, demonstrating limited robustness.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Preliminary evidence suggests that moderate-intensity, skill-based exercise may improve inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility within 6-10 weeks. Aerobic exercise may enhance working memory within 4-5 weeks. However, factors such as ADHD subtypes, age, and dose-response relationships remain unclear. Clinical implementation should be individualised and await high-quality validation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41726842