@2024 Afarand., IRAN

---

ISSN: 2252-0805    The Horizon of Medical Sciences 2017;23(1):35-39

Background
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a defect in central nervous system with symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. The prevalence of this disorder in Iran, according to the today’s modern society, inactivity, poor diet and other factors, is on the rise. Having this disorder in boys is as triple as in girls [1].
Previous Studies
… [2-11]. Aron et al. evaluated the effects of physical activities on cognitive performance in children with ADHD. The results showed the impact of exercise on improvement of their cognitive function [12]. … [13].
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 6 week of intensive interval exercise on the changes of serum dopamine level as well as the improvement of perceptual-motor skills in male children with ADHD.
Research type
This is an applied research with quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design with a control group.
Research society, place and time
This study was conducted on the adolescent male students with ADHD from eastern schools of Tehran in 2015.
Sampling method and number
20 adolescent male students with ADHD disorder were selected by random sampling method and were randomly assigned into two groups of control (n=10) and experimental (n=10). Inclusion criteria were ADHD disorder and inactivity and exclusion criteria were known physical conditions such as cardiovascular, thyroid and respiratory diseases, physical disability, mental retardation, seizures and psychotic symptoms.
Used devices&materials
Conner’s Questionnaire was randomly distributed among the schools. This questionnaire is used for measuring hyperactivity. In this study, 48-item version was used. This version detects five factors of behavioral problem, learning problems, psychosomatic problems, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and anxiety. The symptoms are graded on four multiple choice scale from zero to 3 (zero=never. 1=slightly, 2= a little high, 3=very much). Conner’s Teaching Rating Scale is complementary of Conner’s Parents Scale that in this study 39-item version of this questionnaire was used. This questionnaire measures six factors of hyperactivity, behavioral problems, emotional extremes, anxiety-passivity, asocial, and negligence-daydreaming difficulties. The validity and reliability of this questionnaire in Iran was evaluated appropriate using Cronbach’s alpha of 0.81% and approval of the psychiatric experts [14]. The minimum score for inclusion score was 20. Therefore, selective subjects had the disorder above the average. In the parent’s questionnaire, in addition to the questions in the teacher’s questionnaire, demographic and background questions were, also, considered. Accordingly, 20 patients with ADHD disorder were selected and randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups (n=10 for each group). Weight, height and subcutaneous fat were measured to evaluate the body composition. In order to assess the motor skills of the subjects, Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency was used. This test is norm-referenced test which evaluates the motor function in children aged 4.5 to 15.5 years. A complete set of this test is composed of 8 subscales (including 46 separate parts), which assesses fine and gross motor proficiency or disorder. The purified form of the test includes 8 subscales and 14 separate parts. 4, 3, and 1 subscales measure gross motor skills, fine motor skills and both skills respectively. The 8 subscales include sprint and agility, balance, bilateral coordination, strength, upper limb coordination, speed of response, visual motor control, speed and agility of upper limbs [14]. Before and after the intervention, this test was taken from the two groups. In the experimental group, intensive interval exercise consisting of intervals of exercises of high intensity and intervals of active rest phases of low intensity, three days a week for 6 weeks. The exercise protocol consisted of 20-meter running with different reps in the first to sixth weeks with rest intervals of 20-30 seconds between running. In compliance with the principle of overload and effectiveness of exercises, the short-term running reps in the first and second weeks, third and fourth weeks, and fifth and sixth weeks were 4, 5, and 6 times respectively. It should be noted that in each session, 5 minutes were considered for each of warmup and cooling. During the 6 weeks of intervention, the subjects of the control group were prevented from doing any exercise. After 48 hours of the last exercise session, anthropometric indices were measured in both groups; the subjects of the two groups participated in Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, and their blood samples were taken for determining the level of dopamine. For statistical analysis, SPSS16 software was used. For determining normal distribution of data Shapiro-Wilk test was used, and for studying the homogeneity of variance, Levin test was used. Within group difference was studied with paired T-test, and between group difference was studied with independent T-test.
Findings by Text
The subjects of the study, as a whole, had a mean age 12.60±5.40, mean weight 60.33±7.15, and mean height 154.00±5.50cm. In the pretest phase, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of BMI, body fat percentage, motor proficiency test score and level of serum dopamine (p<0.05). In the experimental group, serum dopamine level (p=0.01) was significantly increased and BMI (p=0.001) and body fat percentage (0.002) were significantly decreased in posttest phase compared to the pretest phase. Also, the increase of motor proficiency test score in the experimental group was statistically significant (p=0.001). None of the variables had significant change during the 6 weeks in the control group (p>0.05; Table 1).
Main comparison to the similar studies
The results of the current study with regards to the increase in the serum dopamine level following physical activities are in accordance with the results of studies conducted by Mahoon et al. [7] and Bakhshipoor et al. [9] that studied the effect of frequent exercises on the serum dopamine level in children with ADHD. … [15-25].
Suggestions
Other colleagues are recommended to use exercise activities as complementary therapy with common treatments of hyperactivity. It is, also, suggested that in future studies, official and targeted exercises be used as well.
Limitations
The current study had some limitations of which small number of subjects, lack of precise control of subjects’ nutrition, lack of precise control of subjects’ activities outside of the study, lack of the subjects’ psychological and mental control, and the sample size can be mentioned.
Conclusions
6 weeks of intensive interval exercises enhances the perceptual-motor performance and increase in dopamine serum level in males with ADHD.
Acknowledgments
The officials of schools, teachers, students, and their parents who helped us in this study, are appreciated.
Conflict of interest
Non-declared
Ethical Permissions
Volunteers consent form was completed and they announced their readiness to participate in the study.
Funding Sources
This study has been conducted without any financial support.

TABLES and CHARTS

Show attach file