Motor Attention Training for ADHD

Overseen By Alexander K Converse, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Disqualifiers: Unwilling to participate

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 16

Duration: 8 weeks

145 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial is testing whether tai chi or exercise classes can help college students with ADHD. These activities are thought to improve focus and reduce inattention by enhancing brain function and lowering stress. Tai Chi is an increasingly popular practice that integrates movement with cognitive skills relevant to ADHD. The study will compare these interventions to see which is most effective.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Exercise, Physical Activity, Workout, Fitness Training, Tai Chi, Tai Chi Chuan, Taijiquan, Tʻai chi, Tʻai chi chʻüan, Changquan, Sanshiqi, Shisanshi, Mianquan, Roushou for ADHD?

Research shows that physical activity, including Tai Chi, can improve symptoms of ADHD, particularly inattention. Studies have found that exercise helps with focus and reduces impulsivity, making it a promising non-drug option for managing ADHD symptoms. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Tai Chi safe for humans?

A systematic review of Tai Chi in randomized trials found it to be generally safe, with few reports of adverse events (unwanted side effects). ^{1 2 3 4 6}

How does Tai Chi differ from other treatments for ADHD?

Tai Chi is a unique treatment for ADHD as it combines physical movement with cognitive skills, offering a non-drug alternative that may improve attention by integrating mindful attention to the body during movement. Unlike traditional stimulant medications, Tai Chi provides a holistic approach that may appeal to those seeking complementary therapies. ^{1 2 3 7 8}

Research Team

Alexander K Converse, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduates who have a documented diagnosis of ADHD. It's designed to see if non-drug treatments can help with their condition. Students must be willing and able to participate in the interventions.

Inclusion Criteria

You are a student enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as an undergraduate.

You have been diagnosed with ADHD and there is written proof of it.

Exclusion Criteria

I am not able or willing to follow the study's treatment plan.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are randomized into three arms: tai chi class, exercise class, or standard care alone for 8 weeks

8 weeks

16 visits (in-person) for tai chi and exercise arms

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for ADHD symptoms monthly for 3 months post-intervention

12 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Exercise
• Tai Chi

Trial Overview The study is testing two types of physical activity, Exercise and Tai Chi, as potential treatments for ADHD in college students. The goal is to determine how feasible these interventions are as non-pharmacological options.

Participant Groups

Group I: Tai Chi Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will attend 50-minute classes 2 times per week for 8 weeks. The course will emphasize experiential learning with 2 weeks of introductory sessions on gait, posture, and tai chi principles followed by instruction in the 24-form Yang style sequence. Students will be given a video to aid learning outside of class, and maintenance of practice post-intervention.

Group II: Exercise Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in the exercise arm will attend 50-minute classes 2 times per week for 8 weeks. The course will emphasize cardio-aerobic fitness training. Students will be given a video to aid practice outside of class, and maintenance of practice post-intervention.

Group III: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in the control arm will not attend a class and not be given a video.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,249

Recruited

3,255,000+

Findings from Research

A feasibility trial involving 21 undergraduates with ADHD showed a high retention rate of 90% and good data quality, indicating that a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Tai Chi as a non-pharmacological treatment for ADHD is feasible.

The primary outcome measure, self-reported inattention symptoms, demonstrated strong reliability, suggesting that Tai Chi could potentially help improve attention in young adults with ADHD, although further refinements in study design are needed.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tai Chi training for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A feasibility trial in college students. Converse, AK., Barrett, BP., Chewning, BA., et al.[2021]

Undergraduates with ADHD are more open to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, indicating a potential for non-pharmacological treatments like tai chi.

About 32% of students with ADHD expressed a strong willingness to participate in a tai chi trial, suggesting that such interventions could be feasible and well-received in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The appeal of tai chi and complementary therapies for college students with ADHD. Sulzer, SH., Trueba, C., Converse, AK.[2023]

A 15-week tai chi training program for healthy young adults showed improvements in self-reported attention, suggesting it may be an effective non-pharmacological alternative for managing ADHD symptoms.

Participants who practiced tai chi experienced reduced reaction time variability, indicating enhanced attention control, while their affective bias improved, suggesting a potential benefit for cognitive function.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tai chi training reduces self-report of inattention in healthy young adults. Converse, AK., Ahlers, EO., Travers, BG., et al.[2021]

Physical activity interventions significantly improve ADHD-related symptoms, particularly inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, emotional problems, and behavioral issues, based on a meta-analysis of 23 studies involving 394 participants.

Different types of physical activities are beneficial for specific symptoms: closed motor skills help with hyperactivity/impulsivity, while open motor skills are more effective for attention problems, indicating that tailored physical activity programs could enhance treatment for ADHD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Physical Activity Intervention on ADHD Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Xie, Y., Gao, X., Song, Y., et al.[2023]

Regular physical exercise can significantly improve various symptoms associated with ADHD, including stress, anxiety, and poor impulse control, while also enhancing executive functioning and working memory.

Exercise increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is crucial for brain health and development, suggesting that physical activity may help ADHD individuals achieve better long-term outcomes in adulthood, even alongside other treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical exercise alleviates ADHD symptoms: regional deficits and development trajectory. Archer, T., Kostrzewa, RM.[2021]

Tai chi (TC) is generally safe, with no serious adverse events reported in a review of 153 randomized controlled trials, primarily involving older adults, although minor musculoskeletal issues like knee and back pain were noted.

Only 33% of the trials reported adverse events, and just 12% had a clear protocol for monitoring them, indicating that the inconsistent reporting limits our understanding of TC's safety profile.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What do we really know about the safety of tai chi?: A systematic review of adverse event reports in randomized trials. Wayne, PM., Berkowitz, DL., Litrownik, DE., et al.[2022]

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) such as Mindfulness, Tai Chi, Yoga, and Qigong show a small but significant positive effect on reducing symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in individuals with ADHD, based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The analysis indicated a moderate improvement in executive function (EF) as well, with effect sizes of g = -0.26 for inattention, g = -0.19 for hyperactivity/impulsivity, and g = -0.35 for EF, suggesting that MBIs can be beneficial for managing ADHD symptoms, although further research is needed to confirm these findings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of Meditation-Based Mind-Body Interventions on Symptoms and Executive Function in People With ADHD: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Zhang, Z., Chang, X., Zhang, W., et al.[2023]

Mindful movement practices like yoga and tai chi can enhance cognitive skills such as attention and self-control, particularly benefiting individuals with ADHD by improving their motor control and behavioral regulation.

The study suggests that engaging in mindful movement can cultivate transferable skills of attention, linking motor plans and cognitive control, which may lead to improved overall wellbeing and functional quality in various populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindful movement and skilled attention. Clark, D., Schumann, F., Mostofsky, SH.[2020]

References

1. Scotland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tai Chi training for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A feasibility trial in college students. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The appeal of tai chi and complementary therapies for college students with ADHD. [2023]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tai chi training reduces self-report of inattention in healthy young adults. [2021]

4. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Physical Activity Intervention on ADHD Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical exercise alleviates ADHD symptoms: regional deficits and development trajectory. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What do we really know about the safety of tai chi?: A systematic review of adverse event reports in randomized trials. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of Meditation-Based Mind-Body Interventions on Symptoms and Executive Function in People With ADHD: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. [2023]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindful movement and skilled attention. [2020]