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Martial arts as complementary interventions to support ADHD-related symptom control Cover

Martial arts as complementary interventions to support ADHD-related symptom control

Open Access
|Jun 2025

Figures & Tables

Analysis of demographic and inclusion/exclusion criteria_

StudyParticipants at baselineAnalyzed participantsInclusion criteriaExclusion criteria
Ludyga et al., 202263 children with ADHD 8-12 y/o
  • JTG n=31

  • control group n=32

n=57
  • JTG n=29

  • (23 males. 6 females)

  • control group n=28 (18 males, 10 females)

  • ADHD diagnosis

  • 8-12 y/o

  • right handed

  • corrected-to or normal vision

  • pharmacotherapy with D-MPH/MPH for at least 3 months prior to the intervention

  • participation once a week in martial arts 3 months prior

  • dosage changes MPH/D-MPH within month prior

  • additional therapy

  • -ASD and/or structural epilepsy

  • injuries or diseases affecting the functionality of the right hand

  • chronic disease classified as contraindication for exercise

Kadri et al., 201940 adolescents with ADHD (36 males, 4 females) 14.35 ± 3.26 y/o
  • TKD group n=20

  • control group n=20

no information on changes in the number of participants analyzed
  • ADHD diagnosis

  • regular eating patterns

  • abstinence from strenuous exercise 48 h before testing

  • consumption of dietary supplements/drugs

  • history of chronic illnesses, bronchospasm, allergic conditions

  • history of respiratory infections within month prior to

  • history of using medications that alter HPG axis

  • color blindness or visual impairments

Converse et al., 202021 adults with ADHD (14 females, 7 males) 18–23 y/o
  • Tai Chi group n=9

  • active control n=5

  • inactive control n=7

n=19
  • Tai Chi group n=9

active
  • control n=4

  • inactive control n=6

  • ADHD diagnosis

  • current student in the UW-Madison McBurney Disability Resources Center

Analysis of applied interventions_

StudyIntervention in study groupIntervention in control group
Ludyga et al., 2022Judo training, 60-min sessions, twice a week for 3 months alongside pharmacological treatmentwait-list control: no physical activity intervention, pharmacological treatment
Kadri et al., 2019Taekwondo training, 50-min sessions, twice a week for 18 monthsathletics, handball and gymnastics, twice a week for 18 months
Converse et al., 2020Tai Chi training, 60-min sessions, twice a week for 7-weeks*16/21 participants used the pharmacological treatment, n/s to which group they belongedactive control: non-contact kickboxing for cardio-aerobic fitness inactive control: no additional intervention*16/21 participants used the pharmacological treatment, n/s to which group they belonged

Efficacy of martial arts as supportive intervention in ADHD_

StudyAssessmentStudy group compared to control group at follow-up
Ludyga et al., 2022Change Detection task↑ K-score (p = 0.030)↔ Reaction time in milliseconds
EEG↑ CDA high load in μV (p = 0.043)↔ CDA low load in μV
MABC-2↔ motor skills
Kadri et al., 2019Ruff 2 and 7 Test↑ Controlled search trials (p = 0.005)↑ Automatic detection trials (p = 0.037)↔ Total speed trials in seconds
Stroop Color-Word Test↑ Word Test (p = 0.028)↔ Color Block Test, Color-Word Interference Test, Interference, Error
Converse et al., 2020CAARS-S:LNo statistical follow-up analysis* The study focused on evaluating recruitment and retention rates to guide the planning of a larger RCT.
FFMQ
SF-36
Postural Stability
Begin Cardiac Recording
Flanker Test
Change Card Sort test
GRE Verbal Reasoning Excerpt
PSQI
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bgbl-2025-0003 | Journal eISSN: 2956-6851 | Journal ISSN: 0373-174X
Language: English
Page range: 27 - 38
Published on: Jun 12, 2025
Published by: The Medical Library named after S. Konopka in Warsaw
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

© 2025 Aleksandra Suchołbiak, Oskar Mikołajczyk, Aleksandra Serafin, Urszula Jarzęcka, published by The Medical Library named after S. Konopka in Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License.