Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40551134›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2025

Effects of virtual reality-based exercise intervention in young people with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review.

Jia-Ling Sun, Xiao-Jun Chaw, Shane Fresnoza, Hsiao-I Kuo

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Jia-Ling SunSchool and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University, No.17, Xu-Zhou Road, 10055, Taipei, Taiwan.
Xiao-Jun ChawSchool and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University, No.17, Xu-Zhou Road, 10055, Taipei, Taiwan.
Shane FresnozaDepartment of Psychology, University of Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria.
Hsiao-I KuoSchool and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University, No.17, Xu-Zhou Road, 10055, Taipei, Taiwan. hikuo@ntu.edu.tw.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder among the young population in the world. Young people with ADHD are often affected in their performance of attention, behavior, and executive functions (EFs), leading to a limited quality of life. Recently, Virtual reality (VR)-based exercise has been used as an intervention for young people with ADHD. Therefore, this review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of VR-based exercise in improving EFs and reducing ADHD symptoms in young people.

methodThis review aims to systematically review the effects of VR-based exercise on the overall EFs and their subdomains, as well as ADHD symptoms in young people with ADHD. This review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD42024604205) and was funded by the National Science and Technology Council, R.O.C., with the project number 112-2314-B002-119-MY3. Studies were identified in five databases (Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Embase) from September 2010 through September 2024. Studies that applied VR-based exercise intervention on young participants with ADHD were included in this systematic review. A total of 6 studies met the inclusion criteria and were considered high quality according to standardized assessment lists.

resultsBased on the 6 included studies and a total of 192 participants, the results showed that VR-based exercise with moderate to vigorous intensity provides positive effects on multiple subdomains of EFs (inhibitory control, attention, working memory, switching, and planning) and clinical symptoms in young people with ADHD. Furthermore, fully immersive and semi-immersive VR-based exercise interventions yielded similar results.

conclusionVR-based exercise effectively improves EFs and is feasible for young people with ADHD, with benefits observed across ages and with sessions over 30 min. However, more evidence is essential for VR-based exercise intervention, which may compare the effects to other intervention types. Additionally, studies with rigorous experimental design are warranted.

Indexed as

Attention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityExecutive FunctionExercise TherapyVirtual RealityVirtual Reality Exposure TherapyAdolescentChildHumansAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderExecutive functionsExerciseVirtual realityYoung people

Identifiers

PMID40551134
PMCPMC12183884

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.