The Effect of Physical Activity Interventions on Executive Function Among People with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Meta-Analysis

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 2021 Apr 15

PMID 33856619

Citations 15

Authors

Ming-Chih Sung

Byungmo Ku

Willie Leung

Megan MacDonald

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The current meta-analysis comprehensively examined the effects of physical activity interventions on executive function among people with neurodevelopmental disorders. The meta-analysis included 34 studies with 1058 participants aged 5-33 years. Results indicated an overall significant medium effect of physical activity interventions on improving executive function in people with neurodevelopmental disorders under the random-effect model (Hedges' g = 0.56, p < .001). Significant moderators of the effects of physical activity intervention on executive function included age, intervention length and session time, executive function subdomains, and intervention dose (total minutes in the intervention). This meta-analysis provides support for the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on executive function among people with neurodevelopmental disorders. Future studies and limitations are discussed.

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