Effects of Exercise Intensity on ADHD Symptoms

NCT06753253 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 1265
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 28
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This project investigates the effects of a bicycling exercise at three levels of exercise intensity (low, moderate, and high) on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in college students. Specifically, the outcomes of interest in this study are self-reported executive functioning, self-reported functional impairment, and ADHD symptom severity. The hypothesis is that exercise will improve executive functioning, while reducing functional impairment and ADHD symptom severity, and that this response will be most pronounced in the high-intensity exercise group.

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; ADHD

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Self-Reported Executive Function

  Self-reported executive function will be measured using a modified version of the Barkley Executive Function Scale (BDEFS)

  The BDEFS will be assessed on the first day of participation in an exercise intervention (session 1) and again on the last day of the intervention (session 3). Session 1 occurs on a Monday, session 2 on a Wednesday, and Session 3 on a Friday.

• Self-Reported Functional Impairment

  Self-Reported Functional Impairment will be measured using a modified version of the Barkley Functional Impairment Scale (BFIS)

  The BFIS will be assessed on the first day of participation in an exercise intervention (session 1) and again on the last day of the intervention (session 3). Session 1 occurs on a Monday, session 2 on a Wednesday, and Session 3 on a Friday.

• Self-Reported ADHD Symptom Severity

  Self-Reported ADHD Symptom Severity will be measured using the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale IV (BAARS-IV)

  The BAARS-IV will be assessed on the first day of participation in an exercise intervention (session 1) and again on the last day of the intervention (session 3). Session 1 occurs on a Monday, session 2 on a Wednesday, and Session 3 on a Friday.

Study Arms (3)

Low Intensity

EXPERIMENTAL

The low intensity arm will perform 20 minutes of steady-state cycling on an airdyne bike. Intensity will be confirmed with continuous heart rate measurement, and heart rate should not exceed 65% of maximal heart rate (220-age) in this arm.

Behavioral: Cycling Exercise

Moderate Intensity

EXPERIMENTAL

The moderate intensity arm will perform 20 minutes of steady-state cycling on an airdyne bike, maintaining heart rate between 65-85% of maximal heart rate.

Behavioral: Cycling Exercise

High-Intensity

EXPERIMENTAL

The high-intensity arm will perform a 3-minute steady-state cycling warm up on an airdyne bike, followed by 16 minutes of high intensity interval training (HIIT) cycling. The HIIT protocol consists of alternating periods of 20 seconds of high-intensity effort and 120 seconds of return to low-intensity steady-state cycling. The heart rate goal to ensure high-intensity effort is to maintain heart rate \> 85% maximal heart rate during the 20 second high-intensity bursts.

Behavioral: Cycling Exercise

Interventions

Cycling Exercise BEHAVIORAL

Each arm will perform a 20-minute cycling intervention on an airdyne bike at different exercise intensity levels. Participants will perform the intervention three times over the course of one week.

High-Intensity; Low Intensity; Moderate Intensity

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 26 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Age 18-16 Student at Kent State University

You may not qualify if:

• seizures/epilepsy syncope asthma chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) restrictive lung disease adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) heart problems/defects/heart failure/valve problems liver/kidney disease diabetes mellitus current pregnancy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kent State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Kent State University

Kent, Ohio, 44242, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 5, 2024
• First Posted: December 31, 2024
• Study Start: August 6, 2024
• Primary Completion: November 25, 2024
• Study Completion: November 25, 2024
• Last Updated: December 31, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)