Effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with acupuncture on attention function of mentally-retarded adolescents: a randomised controlled trial

doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20220425.003

Abstract

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To detect the impact of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with acupuncture on the attention function of mentally-retarded adolescents from the three dimensions of attention concentration, attention transfer and attention span.
METHODS: A total of 48 adolescents with mild to moderate mental disabilities were recruited. The participants were randomly divided into four groups: control group (C), Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture group (M), moderate-intensity aerobic exercise group (E) and exercise and acupuncture combined intervention group (J). Before and after the experimental intervention, the participant’s height, weight and attention ability were measured.
RESULTS: The improved range of attention total duration of the J group after the intervention was significantly higher than that of the E and M groups (P < 0.05), whereas that of the latter groups was significantly higher compared to that of the C group (P < 0.05). The J group showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) attention span values after the intervention compared to the E, M and C groups. The C group did not show a significant difference in attention transfer at 12 weeks compared to before intervention (P > 0.05), whereas the E, M and J groups increased significantly (P < 0.05) after intervention than the C group.
CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with acupuncture can more effectively improve the attention concentration and attention span of mentally-retarded adolescents than aerobic exercise or acupuncture alone.

Key words: acupuncture, exercise, intellectual disability, adolescent, attention function, randomised controlled trial

LI Shuoqi, GUO Rong, LIU Chunjing, ZHAI Jiali, LI Keke, LI Shiming, YU Wenbing. Effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with acupuncture on attention function of mentally-retarded adolescents: a randomised controlled trial[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2023, 43(1): 154-159.

Figures/Tables 4

Figure 1 Hot spot figure of attention function test. A: attention concentration test; B: attention span test; C: attention transfer test.

Table 1 Participants’ Physical characteristics and average heart rate and rating of perceived exertion during exercise

Item	E Group (n = 12)	M Group (n = 12)	J Group (n = 12)	C Group (n = 12)
Age (years)	13.9±1.2	14.7±1.6	14.7±1.6	14.4±1.2
Sex (M: F)	8: 4	6: 6	7: 5	5: 7
Height (cm)	152.9±5.9	156.2±7.6	153.3±9.0	153.1±8.4
Weight (kg)	52.3±5.6	52.3±8.9	53.6±8.8	50.9±7.5
WISC-IQ scores	46.2±6.0	45.1±7.3	46.9±6.8	47.7±9.6
HR_max(bpm)	206.1±1.2	205.2±1.6	205.3±1.6	205.6±1.2
Average HR (bpm)	146.7±3.6	-	147.2±3.2	-
Average RPE	14.8±1.2	-	14.3±1.4	-

Figure 2 Distribution of study participants

Figure 3 Scatter plot of the difference between the duration of attention before and after intervention in each group A: total duration of attention; B: maximum duration of attention. E group: aerobic exercise, 3x/week, 12 weeks; M group: acupuncture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 3x/week, 12 weeks; J group: aerobic exercise with acupuncture, 3x/week, 12 weeks; C group: control group. aP < 0.05, compared with the C group; bP < 0.05, compared with the J group.

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