Effects of Baduanjin on response inhibition in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A randomized controlled trial.
Twelve weeks of slow Chinese stretching drills modestly improved stop-signal accuracy and parent ratings for kids with ADHD.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Kids with ADHD practiced Baduanjin for 12 weeks. Baduanjin is a slow set of eight Chinese stretching moves.
The study split kids into three groups: Baduanjin, normal gym class, or wait-list. Then they counted No-Go errors on a computer task and asked parents about ADHD symptoms.
What they found
The Baduanjin group made fewer No-Go mistakes. Parents also rated their ADHD symptoms lower than the other two groups.
Brain-wave data did not show clear changes, but behavior did. The effect was small but real.
How this fits with other research
Green et al. (2020) got similar gains using an 8-week classroom mindfulness program with autistic students. Both studies show slow body-mind drills can sharpen inhibition across diagnoses.
Cullinan et al. (2001) and Mueller et al. (2000) taught single kids with ADHD to wait 24 hours for bigger rewards. Their tight one-to-one delay training worked faster, but Baduanjin gives a group option that needs no tokens or timers.
Brackenridge et al. (2011) found stimulant medication speeds stopping speed. Baduanjin gives a drug-free, side-effect-free route to the same target, though the gain is smaller.
Why it matters
You now have a low-cost group tool that cuts impulsive errors. Slip a five-minute Baduanjin break into transitions or homework club. No gear, no meds, just copy the eight moves from any video. Track No-Go accuracy weekly to see if it helps your clients too.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week Baduanjin intervention on response inhibition and electrophysiological activity in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), 90 children with ADHD were randomly assigned to a Baduanjin, regular physical activity, or waitlist control group for 12 weeks. Behavioral performance and event-related potentials (ERP) during a Go/No-Go task were measured pre- and post-intervention. Parents completed the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham IV scale (SNAP-IV) at both time points. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, SNAP-IV scores decreased in the Baduanjin and regular physical activity groups, with no significant change in the control group. In the Go/No-Go task, the Baduanjin group showed a reduction in No-Go error rates, the regular physical activity group showed no change, and the control group showed a trend toward increased errors. Neurophysiologically, only the N2/P3 components showed larger amplitudes in the No-Go condition compared to Go, with no other significant differences observed. CONCLUSION: Preliminary evidence suggests that Baduanjin has the potential to improve response inhibition in children with ADHD; however, evidence for improvements at the neural level requires further investigation.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2026 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2026.105277