Enhancing Executive Functions and Handwriting with a Concentrative Coordination Exercise in Children with ADHD: A...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Sports Science

Background:

• Handwriting difficulties are prevalent in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), impacting academic success and self-esteem.
• Executive functions, crucial for learning and daily life, are often impaired in children with ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of table tennis training in enhancing executive functions and handwriting skills in children with ADHD.
• To compare the effects of actual table tennis versus simulated table tennis (exergame) on these outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 48 children diagnosed with ADHD.
• Participants were allocated to three groups: actual table tennis, simulated table tennis, or a control group.
• A 12-week intervention period with three one-hour sessions per week for the table tennis groups, followed by assessments using computerized handwriting analysis, the Stroop test, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST).

Main Results:

• Both actual and simulated table tennis groups demonstrated significant improvements in handwriting performance, response time, and automation speed.
• Improvements were observed in the Stroop Color-Word test for both intervention groups.
• Only the actual table tennis group showed a significant improvement in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST).

Conclusions:

• Table tennis training, encompassing motor coordination and visual concentration, offers a promising avenue for improving executive functions and handwriting in children with ADHD.
• Both real-world and virtual table tennis activities can yield short-term benefits, with actual table tennis showing a broader impact on executive functions.