Effectiveness of Neuro Linguistics Programming and Structured Exercises on Motor Skills, Physical Fitness and Attention in Children with ADHD - A Randomized Control Trial
Description
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is a prevalent, neuro behavioral disorder defined by developmentally inappropriate symptoms of inattention, impulsiveness and overactivity. This, study was conducted in two phases, the aim of phase-I was to evaluate motor skills, physical fitness and attention in ADHD and typically developing children. While, the aims of phase-II was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Structured Exercise Program (SEP), and Neuro Linguistics programming (NLP) on motor skills, physical fitness and attention in ADHD children. The Phase-I was a two-group comparative, cross sectional study, wherein seventy one ADHD and seventy one typically developing children were recruited, and assessed on motor skills, physical fitness and attention. An Independent t-test revealed that ADHD children had significant deficits in motor skills, physical fitness (except BMI) and attention compared to typically developing children (p < 0.05). The Phase-II study was a randomized control trial, between factor had three groups, Group-A, received SEP, Group-B, received SEP+NLP, and Group-C were the controls, continued with their routine activities. The repeated factor was time, had three levels: pre-intervention, post 1 following 6 weeks of intervention, and post 2, follow up after 2 weeks. SEP group received eighteen sessions (three times/ week for 6 weeks) inaddition to this SEP+NLP group received six sessions of NLP. ANOVA revealed significant improvements in SEP and SEP+NLP group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Multiple comparisons using Bonferroni p<0.05, revealed significant improvement following SEP + NLP, compared to only SEP following six weeks of intervention and during two weeks of follow up period. In conclusion, it was observed that ADHD children exhibited greater motor skills, physical fitness and attention deficits, compared to their typically developing peers. It was found that a school-based structured exercise program independently and/or in combination with a Neurolinguistics program improved motor skills,physical fitness and attention in ADHD children.