Search

Objectives and methodsThis study aimed to investigate whether a four-month skateboarding workshop can positively affect attention-focusing skills and postural control in terms of static and dynamic balance in addition to symptoms of ADHD in school-aged children (N = 58). Kinematic and kinetic movement analysis, attention-focusing tests as well as symptom questionnaires were employed to measure differences caused by the skateboarding intervention. A weekly skateboarding workshop was conducted with children diagnosed with ADHD which intended to encourage children to autonomously engage in physical activity. Group differences were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model. A partial correlation was used to investigate possible relationships between the variables.ResultsA preceding analysis confirmed that children with ADHD perform statistically significantly inferior in the employed tests of balance and concentration ability than unaffected peers of the same age. The main analysis showed that after the skateboarding intervention, children with ADHD were able to improve cognitive and motor test performances as well as symptom expression significantly. Significant improvements were likewise found in the waitlist control group, these were however less pronounced compared to those of the skateboarding intervention group. The correlation analysis revealed that there is no reciprocal influence between cognitive and motor skills, nor between motor skills and ADHD symptomatology in the present patient group. Possible explanations are discussed.ConclusionSkateboarding as a form of movement intervention can be considered an effective method for children with ADHD to deal with their symptoms and deficits. An intervention period of four months has helped children with ADHD discover and embrace an informal sport like skateboarding, thereby finding enjoyment in movement and practice a skill from intrinsic motivation. To retain the benefits, it is advisable to practice a sport on a long-term basis. Thorough conceptualizations to implement this type of therapy await further research.

BackgroundIn times of physical stress, the body orchestrates a multisystemic regulatory response. The hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine play a role in the immediate regulation chain, while cortisol is involved in delayed regulation. The release of those stress hormones in response to exercise has previously been reported to elicit diverse immune reactions.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to examine and present the acute effects of immediate pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in experienced endurance athletes.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science in accordance with PRISMA guidelines up to February 2023. Randomized controlled trials in English or German language were included if baseline and at least two follow-up measures of blood plasma or serum of chosen stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine) were collected in response to prolonged continuous endurance activity. Eligibility furthermore required an acute carbohydrate ingestion of at least 30 g of carbohydrates per hour no more than 30 min before start of the exercise, as well as a placebo-controlled study design.ResultsEleven studies of moderate to high quality were included in this review. Carbohydrate ingestion of at least 30 g per hour was able to attenuate rises in cortisol concentration in majority of the included studies. Epinephrine levels were considerably lower with ingestion of carbohydrates compared to placebo in all studies. Norepinephrine concentrations were largely unaffected by acute carbohydrate feeding.ConclusionPre- and mid-exercise ingestion of carbohydrates seems an effective dietary strategy to attenuate rises in cortisol and epinephrine levels and, thus, an effective countermeasure for endurance exercise-induced increases in stress hormone levels.