THE EFFECT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON LIFE QUALITY OF THE HYPERACTIVITY IN THE CHILD WITH ADHD

¹Antonine University, Physical Therapy, Hadath, Lebanon

Background: Attention-Hyperactivity and Deficit Disorder (ADHD) is a brain disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and or hyperactivity that interferes with functioning and development. In preschool, children mainly present with hyperactivity.

Purpose: The SOS Children´s Village in Bharsaf-Mount Lebanon is an association that since 1964 has provided for children including those with hyperactivity. The team of educators and teachers in the association, all have annual continuing education. The annual cost of drugs administered to these children amounted to approximately US $10,000 in 2011.The objective of the study was to examine the effect of physical activity on quality of life of the hyperactive children.

Methods: Six children from the SOS Children´s Village in Lebanon, attended physical activity sessions for three months, four times per week. The protocol was based on that of Bailey who suggested physical activities are a combination of actions and reactions, physical and mental, which can positively influence the symptoms of ADHD. Evaluation of hyperactivity was performed using the short version of Conner’s Test. The sessions were conducted under the supervision of a physiotherapist, assisted by a non-professional help and without the mothers present.

Results: The comparison of the mean scores for the Conners test scores before (69.17 ± 6.80) and after physical activity sessions (54.83 ± 10.36) showed there was a significant improvement (p = 0.0007).

Conclusion(s): The positive relationship between physical activity and attention also played a role in the overall improvement of the participating children with ADHD.

Implications: The exercises which targetted participation and ability to concentrate, seemed to have a positive influence on the children’s behavior.

Funding acknowledgements: no funding

Topic: Paediatrics

Ethics approval: Local ethical committee of the departement of Physical therapy at theAntonine University

All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.