Date of Completion

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy

Keywords

ADHD

Abstract

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent condition that often persists into adulthood, leading to functional consequences across adult life domains. Studies and research on the effective treatments for ADHD ranging from pharmacological or non-pharmacological such as behavioural therapy or exercise in adults are limited, leaving a gap in literature regarding this specific subject, because most studies concerning ADHD primarily focus on children, which is the population where ADHD is most prevalent. Following PRISMA Guidelines, this study synthesizes evidence on the effects of aerobic exercise on executive functioning in adults with ADHD. It includes adults aged 18 and above clinically diagnosed with ADHD, engaging in aerobic exercise, regardless of pharmacological treatment or other interventions. Primary outcomes encompass executive function (EF) domains: working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. The search spanned 12 databases, yielding 9078 initial results, of which 8606 underwent screening. Following title and abstract screening, 98 studies underwent full-text screening, with 7 included for review. Additional methods, including ancestral, grey literature, and snowballing, yielded 5 more reports, totalling 12 included studies. All underwent data collection and bias evaluation, assessed using GRADEpro. Among the 12 studies, one with two subdomains assessed working memory, showing a positive impact of aerobic exercise with a large effect size (ES = .67). Five studies demonstrated significant improvements in inhibitory control across 135 samples, highlighting aerobic exercise's benefits on executive function. Regarding cognitive flexibility, three studies with findings across 41 samples showed significant improvement after aerobic exercise intervention (Cohen’s D = 0.72; p-value = .03 and .109). These findings underscore aerobic exercise's beneficial effects on executive functioning in adults with ADHD, suggesting its potential as a valuable adjunct treatment and promising nonpharmacological approach. Lastly, this study could catalysed, further research to improve interventions and treatments for adults with ADHD, enhancing clinical outcomes and informing public health strategies.

First Advisor

Sionell V. Rupa

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