This review pooled 13 studies of adults with ADHD diagnoses or symptoms. They covered 312 adults aged 18 to 54 from the USA, UK, Germany, Iran, Taiwan, Israel and Sweden. Each study had 5 to 42 people. The studies tested 15 physical activity programs. Most looked at a single session of activity. Only four looked at programs with many sessions.
After a single session, core ADHD symptoms dropped a little compared with the same people's scores beforehand (Hedges' g -0.191). The drop showed up on thinking tests, on measures of movement, and after cardio exercise. It did not show up clearly in people's own reports of their symptoms or after mind-body exercise.
Programs with many sessions did not produce a clear drop in symptoms. Within those four studies, though, programs that ran for more weeks were linked to bigger drops.
The evidence has limits. With so few studies, the review had little power to detect effects. Twelve of the 13 studies were rated methodologically weak. Most did not keep participants or testers unaware of who got what. The results compare people with their own earlier scores, not with a control group. The single-session data also showed signs that studies with positive results were more likely to be published.
The authors suggest that physical activity, especially single sessions of cardio, could serve as a complementary approach for adults with ADHD.
Source: Dahlberg M, Vessonen T, Finell J, et al.. The effects of physical activity interventions on the core symptoms of ADHD in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mental Health and Physical Activity (2025). doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2025.100725