Effect of external sensory integration on motor functional disorder in children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD)

Chhavi Kumar Sharma; Shahiduz Zafar

doi:10.15391/prrht.2025-10(3).07

Authors

Chhavi Kumar Sharma Department of Physiotherapy, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0762-9990
Shahiduz Zafar Department of Physiotherapy, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2764-7755

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15391/prrht.2025-10(3).07

Keywords:

ADHD, Sensory Integration Therapy, Motor Function, Physiotherapy, Conner’s Teacher Rating Scale, Gross Motor Function

Abstract

Purpose. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children, often associated with motor impairments affecting balance, coordination, and overall motor function. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of conventional physiotherapy alone versus conventional physiotherapy combined with sensory integration therapy in improving motor function in children with ADHD in India.

Material & Methods. A total of 102 children with ADHD (aged 3–12 years) were recruited and randomly assigned to either the control group (conventional physiotherapy, n=51) or the experimental group (conventional physiotherapy + sensory integration therapy, n=51). The intervention lasted six months, with five sessions per week, each groups. Motor function and ADHD symptoms were assessed pre- and post-intervention using 60 minutes Conner’s Teacher Rating Scale, Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), and the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ).

Results. Post-intervention, the experimental group showed significant improvements in ADHD symptoms (p=0.002), gross motor function (p=0.001), and coordination skills (p=0.01) compared to the control group. Both groups demonstrated high adherence rates (p>0.05), indicating the feasibility of integrating sensory therapy into routine physiotherapy.

Conclusions. The findings suggest that sensory integration therapy, when combined with physiotherapy, significantly enhances motor function and reduces ADHD symptoms more effectively than physiotherapy alone. These results support the incorporation of sensory-based interventions into ADHD rehabilitation programs in India. Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Baranek, G. T. (2002). Efficacy of sensory and motor interventions for children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 32(5), 397–422. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020541906063

Bundy, A. C., Lane, S. J., & Murray, E. A. (2002). Sensory integration: Theory and practice. F. A. Davis.

Chang, Y. S., Owen, J. P., Desai, S. S., Hill, S. S., Arnett, A. B., Harris, J., & Mukherjee, P. (2014). Autism and sensory integration: Clinical considerations and research directions. Current Psychiatry Reports, 16(5), 409. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-014-0409-5

Cermak, S. A., & Larkin, D. (2002). Developmental coordination disorder. Delmar Cengage Learning.

Dunn, W. (1999). The sensory profile: User’s manual. Psychological Corporation.

Ghanizadeh, A. (2011). Sensory processing problems in children with ADHD, a systematic review. Psychiatry Investigation, 8(2), 89–94. https://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2011.8.2.89

Miller, L. J., Coll, J. R., & Schoen, S. A. (2007). A randomized controlled pilot study of the effectiveness of occupational therapy for children with sensory modulation disorder. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61(2), 228–238. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.61.2.228

Pfeiffer, B., Koenig, K., Kinnealey, M., Sheppard, M., & Henderson, L. (2011). Effectiveness of sensory integration interventions in children with autism spectrum disorders: A pilot study. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65(1), 76–85. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2011.09205

Polatajko, H. J., & Cantin, N. (2005). Developmental coordination disorder (DCD): A review of research on subtypes and comorbidities. Human Movement Science, 24(6), 855–869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2005.10.008

Schaaf, R. C., & Nightlinger, K. M. (2007). Occupational therapy using a sensory integrative approach for children with developmental disabilities. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 13(1), 32–37. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrdd.20134

Sergeant, J. A., Geurts, H., & Oosterlaan, J. (2002). How specific is a deficit of executive functioning for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder? Behavioral Brain Research, 130(1–2), 3–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-4328(01)00430-2

Shum, S. B., Neely, R. J., Fong, V. C., & McGrew, J. H. (2019). Sensory integration therapy for children with developmental and learning disabilities: A systematic review. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 12(1), 23–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2019.1573798

Williams, J., & Shellenberger, S. (1996). How does your engine run? A leader’s guide to the alert program for self-regulation. TherapyWorks.

Zelazo, P. D., Qu, L., & Müller, U. (2005). Executive function and the developing brain. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 70(2), vii–137. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5834.2005.00362.x