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.
12345Is 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).
12346How 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.
12378Eligibility 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.
Trial 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
Participant Groups
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.
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Tai ChiExperimental Treatment1 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: ExerciseActive Control1 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: ControlActive Control1 Intervention
Participants in the control arm will not attend a class and not be given a video.
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Waisman CenterMadison, WI
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Wisconsin, MadisonLead Sponsor
References
Tai Chi training for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A feasibility trial in college students. [2021]Many young adults are affected by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and often desire non-pharmacological treatment options. Mind-body techniques might serve as complementary therapies to first-line stimulant medications, but studies are limited. Tai Chi is an increasingly popular practice that integrates movement with cognitive skills relevant to ADHD. We performed a feasibility trial of Tai Chi training in undergraduates to inform the design of a fully powered randomized controlled trial (RCT).
The appeal of tai chi and complementary therapies for college students with ADHD. [2023]Background:  Developing effective non-pharmacological therapies for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is important. We gauged the likelihood that undergraduates would participate in a trial of tai chi as an intervention for ADHD, and evaluated attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Methods: We collected survey responses from 47 undergraduates with ADHD and 49 healthy controls, measuring their likelihood of participating in trials of tai chi and other non-pharmacological therapies, along with attitudes toward CAM. We examined the relationship between diagnosis, CAM attitudes, and willingness to participate in a trial. Results: Undergraduates with ADHD showed greater acceptance of CAM therapies. Thirty two percent of students with ADHD expressed strong willingness to participate in a tai chi trial. Conclusion: These results support the feasibility of a trial of tai chi as therapy for undergraduates with ADHD, and suggest this population is receptive toward CAM. Future research should examine why interest in CAM is greater among students with ADHD.
Tai chi training reduces self-report of inattention in healthy young adults. [2021]It is important to identify effective non-pharmacological alternatives to stimulant medications that reduce symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this study of healthy young adults, we measured the effects of training in tai chi, which involves mindful attention to the body during movement. Using a non-randomized, controlled, parallel design, students in a 15-week introductory tai chi course (n = 28) and control participants (n = 44) were tested for ADHD indicators and cognitive function at three points over the course of the 15-weeks. The tai chi students' self-report of attention, but not hyperactivity-impulsivity, improved compared to controls. At baseline, inattention correlated positively with reaction time variability in an affective go/no-go task across all participants, and improvements in attention correlated with reductions in reaction time variability across the tai chi students. Affective bias changed in the tai chi students, as reaction times to positive- and negative-valenced words equalized over time. These results converge to suggest that tai chi training may help improve attention in healthy young adults. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and to evaluate tai chi as therapy for individuals with ADHD.
Effectiveness of Physical Activity Intervention on ADHD Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2023]Objective: To assess the effectiveness of physical activity (PA) intervention on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related symptoms. Method: Studies that investigated PA intervention for ADHD-related symptoms were identified through searching PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases from inception through June 2021. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the effectiveness of PA intervention on improving ADHD-related symptoms. The meta-analyses were conducted using fixed-effect or random-effect models according to the heterogeneity of the studies. Results: Nine before-after studies (232 participants) and 14 two-group control studies (162 participants/141 controls) were included in this meta-analysis. Combined results for before-after studies indicated significant improvements on all studied ADHD-related symptoms (inattention: SMD = 0.604, 95% CI: 0.374-0.834, p < 0.001; hyperactivity/impulsivity: SMD = 0.676, 95% CI: 0.401-0.950, p < 0.001; emotional problems: SMD = 0.416, 95% CI: 0.283-0.549, p < 0.001; behavioral problems: SMD = 0.347, 95% CI: 0.202-0.492, p < 0.001). Meta-analyses for two-group control studies further confirmed that PA intervention significantly improved the inattentive symptom (SMD = 0.715, 95% CI: 0.105, 1.325, p = 0.022). Subgroup analyses suggested significant beneficial effect on inattention symptoms in children. Moreover, closed motor skills were beneficial for hyperactive/impulsive problems (SMD = 0.671, p < 0.001), while open motor skills were beneficial for attention problems (SMD = 0.455, p = 0.049). When excluding studies with combined medication, the studies in unmedicated participants in before-after studies still showed significant results in all studied ADHD-related symptoms as in the overall analysis. Given the limited sample size, the best frequency and intensity of PA intervention need further investigation. Conclusion: Our results suggested that PA intervention could possibly improve ADHD-related symptoms, especially inattention symptoms. Closed-skill and open-skill activities could be beneficial for hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention symptoms, respectively. Further high-quality randomized clinical trials with large sample size are needed.
Physical exercise alleviates ADHD symptoms: regional deficits and development trajectory. [2021]The heterogeneous, chronic, and proliferating aspect of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbidities covers heritability, cognitive, emotional, motor, and everyday behavioral domains that place individuals presenting the condition at some considerable disadvantage. Disruption of "typical developmental trajectories" in the manifestation of gene-environment interactive predispositions implies that ADHD children and adolescents may continue to perform at defective levels as adults with regard to academic achievement, occupational enterprises, and interpersonal relationships, despite the promise of pharmacotherapeutic treatments. Physical exercise provides a plethora of beneficial effects against stress, anxiety, depression, negative affect and behavior, poor impulse control, and compulsive behavior concomitant with improved executive functioning, working memory and positive affect, as well as improved conditions for relatives and care-givers. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, an essential element in normal brain development that promotes health-associated behaviors and quality-of-life, though reduced in ADHD, is increased markedly by the intervention of regular physical exercise. Functional, regional, and biomarker deficits, as well as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal disruptions, have been improved through regular and carefully applied exercise programs. In view of the complications involving ADHD with co-morbidities, such as obesity, the influence of regular physical exercise has not been found negligible. Physical exercise bestows a propensity for eventual manifestation of "redifferentiated" developmental trajectories that may equip ADHD adults with a prognosis that is more adaptive functionally, independent of the applications of other therapeutic agents and treatments.
What do we really know about the safety of tai chi?: A systematic review of adverse event reports in randomized trials. [2022]To systematically review the frequency and quality of adverse event (AE) reports in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of tai chi (TC).
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]This study aims to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of MBIs (Mindfulness, Tai Chi, Yoga, and Qigong) on symptoms and executive function (EF) in ADHD.
Mindful movement and skilled attention. [2020]Bodily movement has long been employed as a foundation for cultivating mental skills such as attention, self-control or mindfulness, with recent studies documenting the positive impacts of mindful movement training, such as yoga and tai chi. A parallel "mind-body connection" has also been observed in many developmental disorders. We elaborate a spectrum of mindfulness by considering ADHD, in which deficient motor control correlates with impaired (disinhibited) behavioral control contributing to defining features of excessive distractibility and impulsivity. These data provide evidence for an important axis of variation for wellbeing, in which skillful cognitive control covaries with a capacity for skillful movement. We review empirical and theoretical literature on attention, cognitive control, mind wandering, mindfulness and skill learning, endorsing a model of skilled attention in which motor plans, attention, and executive goals are seen as mutually co-defining aspects of skilled behavior that are linked by reciprocal inhibitory and excitatory connections. Thus, any movement training should engage "higher-order" inhibition and selection and develop a repertoire of rehearsed procedures that coordinate goals, attention and motor plans. However, we propose that mindful movement practice may improve the functional quality of rehearsed procedures, cultivating a transferrable skill of attention. We adopt Langer's spectrum of mindful learning that spans from "mindlessness" to engagement with the details of the present task and contrast this with the mental attitudes cultivated in standard mindfulness meditation. We particularly follow Feldenkrais' suggestion that mindful learning of skills for organizing the body in movement might transfer to other forms of mental activity. The results of mindful movement training should be observed in multiple complementary measures, and may have tremendous potential benefit for individuals with ADHD and other populations.