Effects of Inline Skating Exercise on Symptoms, Executive Functions, and Motor Proficiency in Children With ADHD: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background and Purpose: A growing body of evidence demonstrates that physical exercise training is beneficial in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study is aimed at examining the effects of a 12-week inline skating intervention on ADHD symptoms, executive functions (EFs), and motor proficiency in children with ADHD. Methods: This study employed an asymmetric crossover randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. A total of 24 children with ADHD (aged 6–12 years) were recruited from nongovernmental organizations, elementary schools, and parent networks. Participants were paired based on age, medication status, and ADHD presentation and then randomly assigned to either an intervention group (IG) (n = 12) or a wait-list control group (CG) (n = 12). The IG participated in a 12-week inline skating program (80-min sessions, twice weekly), while the CG maintained their regular daily routines and did not participate in any structured physical activity (PA) or skating training during this period. After 12 weeks, the CG underwent the same intervention. ADHD symptoms (parent reported), EFs (inhibition and spatial working memory), and motor proficiency (fine motor control, body coordination, manual coordination, strength, and agility) were assessed at three time points: baseline (T1), posttest (T2), and follow-up (T3). Data were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA to evaluate the effects of the intervention. Results: Children with ADHD in the current study demonstrated improved symptoms, EFs, and motor proficiency (all p < 0.05) after 12-week inline skating intervention. Moreover, the effects appeared to be sustained for at least 12 weeks. Conclusion: This RCT provides preliminary evidence that inline skating may be a feasible and beneficial PA intervention for children with ADHD. However, larger studies are needed to further evaluate its long-term efficacy. Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Registry of Clinical Trials: ACTRN12624000593538.