Exercise-Based Interventions for ADHD: A Review of Modalities, Mechanisms, and Practical Applications

This review examines how different types of physical activity—including aerobic exercise, closed-skill activities (swimming, yoga), open-skill sports, and high-intensity interval training—affect ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents. Evidence suggests structured exercise may improve attention, reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity, and enhance executive function through mechanisms involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and catecholamine modulation, though optimal parameters remain to be established.