A network meta-analysis on the comparative effectiveness and acceptability of physical exercise interventions in children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Forfatter(e)
- Koet, Lukas, Turk, Selina, Korfmacher-Koopmann, Ann-Kathrin, Molendijk, Eveline, de Oude, Kirsten, Bindels, Patrick, Gerger, Heike
- År
- 2026
- Tidsskrift
- International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Sider
- No Pagination Specified
- Kategori(er)
- ADHD
- Tiltakstype(r)
- Fysisk aktivitet
- Abstract
Physical exercise may have positive effects on ADHD-related problems. We conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) to examine the comparative effectiveness of different types of physical exercise interventions on reducing ADHD symptoms and improving executive functions in children and adolescents with ADHD as compared with any type of control intervention, as well as with established rival ADHD treatments. Randomised controlled trials were identified in EMBASE, Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and previous reviews. Two independent reviewers performed screening, data extraction and risk-of-bias (RoB) assessments. We conducted random-effects NMAs based on a frequentist framework. Our primary outcome was parent-rated ADHD symptoms, secondary outcomes were teacher-rated ADHD symptoms, executive functions and treatment acceptability. We included 35 trials. The analyses showed that several types of physical exercise interventions were effective in either reducing ADHD core symptoms or improving executive functions in children and adolescents with ADHD as compared with no treatment. However, the magnitude of the comparative effectiveness remains unclear because the included trials had high RoB and the analyses showed large heterogeneity, complicating definite conclusions. Treatment acceptability did not differ significantly between the comparators. Our main conclusion is that more high-quality trials with larger sample sizes are needed to allow definite conclusions regarding the comparative effectiveness of physical exercise interventions in reducing ADHD-related problems. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)