Effects of therapeutic climbing activities wearing a weighted vest on a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a case study

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of therapeutic climbingactivities on the brain waves and attention of a child with attention deficithyperactivity disorder. [Subject and Methods] The subject of this case study was a 7 year6-month old child diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This study wasbased on evidence gathered at 3 distinct stages: a pre-intervention period, 10intervention periods (2 weeks), and one post-intervention period. The interventioninvolved therapeutic climbing activities wearing a weighted vest over the course of 4weeks. The clinical outcome measures were electroencephalography and the Star CancellationTest. [Results] The mean activation of alpha waves was improved by the therapeuticintervention. During the intervention, the mean activation of alpha waves was the highestat the F3 cortical locus and the lowest at the T4 cortical locus. The average StarCancellation Test scores were 43 at pre-intervention, 50 during the therapeuticintervention, and 52 at post-intervention. The performance time of the Star CancellationTest was 240.1 seconds at pre-intervention, 90.2 seconds during the therapeuticintervention, and 60.0 seconds at post-intervention. [Conclusion] The results of thisstudy suggest that therapeutic climbing activities performed wearing a weighted vest hadpositive effects on the brain waves and the attention span of a child with attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder.Key words: Attention, Brain wave, Sensory