The Effect of Yoga Training on Executive Functions in Children with ADHD

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of Yoga training on executive functions in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 26 children with ADHD. The participants, were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Conner’s Questionnaire (short form of parents and teacher), Wechsler Revised Intelligence Test, and a Cognitive-motor functions apparatus were used to collect the data on diagnosing the disorder, children’s IQ, and executive-motor functions, respectively. An Independent t-test and between groups ANOVA with repeated measures were used to analyze the collected data. A significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups in executive functions. The results showed that 12 weeks of yoga training had a significant effect on executive functions (response inhibition, vigilance, impulsivity and set-shifting). Therefore, it can be concluded that Yoga can be an efficient training method to help improving executive functions in individuals with ADHD.