BACKGROUND: There are studies that show preliminary evidence of the benefits of physical exercise for people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The objective of the research being reported here was to carry out a systematic review of articles relating to the effects that exercise sessions have on children and adolescents with this pathology. METHOD: The total sample of studies considered was 1,723, of which only 11 met the eligibility criteria. RESULTS: The research included in this review showed that children with ADHD undertaking exercise experienced improvements in their characteristic symptoms, mainly attention deficit and hyperactivity, in comparison to other sedentary tasks such as watching a video. Five minutes of jumping or thirty minutes on a treadmill or static bicycle were enough to produce appreciable improvements in inhibitory control or in cognitive and executive functions. Benefits following exercise were also seen in other aspects such as reaction times and preparation for response, motor skills or brain activity. CONCLUSION: The findings make us optimistic that in the future physical exercise may become an alternative, or at least an effective complement, to the pharmacological treatments currently used for this pathology.

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