Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41673260›Full record

Trial reportWorld journal of pediatrics : WJP2026

Integrated cognitive-motor exercise for core symptoms and executive functions in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomized clinical trial.

Fei-Long Zhu, Zheng-Hao Dong, Hao-Yuan Lu, Dong-Qing Kuang, Bao-Hua Xu, Li Yang, Yu-Feng Wang, Ming Zhang, Yuan-Chun Ren

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in World journal of pediatrics : WJP, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Fei-Long ZhuCollege of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
Zheng-Hao DongXuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital, The Affiliated Xuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 10, Kuizhong Lane, Pengcheng Street, Yunlong District, Xuzhou, China.
Hao-Yuan LuXuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital, The Affiliated Xuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 10, Kuizhong Lane, Pengcheng Street, Yunlong District, Xuzhou, China.
Dong-Qing KuangCollege of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
Bao-Hua XuCollege of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
Li YangNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China.
Yu-Feng WangNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China.
Ming ZhangXuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital, The Affiliated Xuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 10, Kuizhong Lane, Pengcheng Street, Yunlong District, Xuzhou, China. zm1455@163.com.
Yuan-Chun RenCollege of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China. yuanchun-ren@bnu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Social Science Foundation 24BTY041Social Science Foundation of Beijing 23YTB035
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. While physical exercise is a promising non-pharmacological intervention, the efficacy of integrating cognitive demands with physical activity remains underexplored. This trial compared the effects of integrated cognitive-motor exercise, aerobic exercise, and a minimal intervention on core symptoms and executive functions (EFs) in children with ADHD.

methodsIn this randomized, controlled, multicenter trial, 107 children with ADHD (aged 6-10 years) were allocated to one of three groups for 12 weeks: (1) integrated cognitive-motor exercise (EG1, n = 36); (2) aerobic exercise (EG2, n = 35); or (3) wait-list control (CG, n = 36). Both EG1 and EG2 performed their respective interventions three times per week in 45-minute sessions. The primary outcomes were inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms and EFs (inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility). The analysis followed the intention-to-treat principle with linear mixed models.

resultsCompared with the CG, both exercise groups presented significant, comparable reductions in inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms (all P ≤ 0.01). However, EG1 demonstrated superior improvements in specific EFs. For inhibitory control (Stroop color-word interference), EG1 resulted in a significantly greater reduction in color-word interference time than both EG2 [β = - 6.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) = - 12.28 to - 0.20, P = 0.045] and CG (β = - 13.97, 95% CI = - 19.97 to - 7.97, P < 0.001). For immediate working memory, the improvement in EG1 was greater than that in both EG2 (β = 2.09, 95% CI = 0.33-3.85, P = 0.032) and CG (β = 3.57, 95% CI = 1.83-5.31, P < 0.001). Both exercise groups improved similarly in cognitive flexibility compared with the CG. Parental satisfaction was significantly greater in EG1 than in EG2 (P < 0.001). No adverse events were reported.

conclusionsA structured integrated cognitive-motor exercise intervention is an effective and safe non-pharmacological treatment for children with ADHD. Compared with aerobic exercise alone, it not only alleviates core symptoms but also yields superior benefits for key EFs, specifically inhibitory control and immediate working memory.

Indexed as

Attention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityExecutive FunctionExercise TherapyChildCognitive FlexibilityFemaleHumansMaleTreatment OutcomeAttention deficit hyperactivity disorderCore symptomsExecutive functionsExercise interventionRandomized controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID41673260

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.