Table 1.

Summary of characteristics of all studies meeting the inclusion criteria

Study	Population	Age (year)	Group	Size (n)	Protocol	Setting	Duration	Frequency (d/wk)
Boer et al. 2014 [27] Belgium RCT	Adolescents with intellectual disabilities; N = 54 (30 boys)	17.0 ± 3.0	HIIT	17	Week 1–7: 10 × 15 s sprint bouts at a resistance matching with the ventilatory threshold interspersed with 45 s rest. Week 8–15: 10 × 15 s sprint bouts at 110% ventilatory threshold interspersed with 45 s rest	Supervised by physiotherapists at schools	15 weeks	2
			CAT	15	three blocks of 10 min continuous training
			CON	14	no supervised exercise training
Braaksma et al. 2022 [28] Netherlands Non-RCT	Children with developmental coordination disorder; N = 20 (16 boys)	10.0 ± 1.6	HIIT	20	Based on running, strength exercises and plyometrics, ≥ 80% HRmax	Supervised by trained physical therapists and PE teachers at rehabilitation centres or special schools	10 weeks	2
Lauglo et al. 2016 [29] Norway Non-RCT	Children with cerebral palsy; N = 20 (11 boys)	13–16	HIIT	14	4 × 4 min intervals at 85% HRmax interspersed with active recovery at about 70% of HRmax on a treadmill	Supervised by physiotherapists Venue not reported	5–12 weeks	2–4
Leahy et al. 2021 [30] Australia non-RCT	Adolescents with disability; N = 11 (7 boys)	17.3 ± 0.7	HIIT	16	~ 10 min and involves 8 × 30 s low complexity exercise interspersed with 30 s rest, ≥ 85% age-predicted HRmax	Supervised by teachers at schools	2 months	2–3
Lee et al. 2019 [31] Canada Randomized crossover	Adolescents hospitalized for a mental illness; N = 28 (8 boys)	15.5 ± 0.9	HIIT	28	12 min HIIT circuit consisting of body weight exercises performed in a 1:1 work to rest ratio	Screened by psychiatrists and nurses at a hospital	1 day (acute effect)	N.A.
			CON	28	reading magazines
Messler et al. 2018 [32] Germany RCT	Boys with ADHD; N = 18	11.0 ± 1.0	HIIT	14	4 × 4 min intervals at 95% HRmax interspersed with 3 min recovery at < 60% HRmax	Recommended by physician/psychologist at a hospital	3 weeks	3
			TRAD	14	60 min sessions of ball and team games, court sports, and climbing at < 70% HRmax)
Schranz et al. 2018 [33] Austria RCT	Children with cerebral palsy; N = 22 (15 boys)	13.4 ± 2.4 (HIIT) 12.2 ± 2.7 (PRT)	HIIT	11	3 rounds of 5 functional exercises with maximal intensity in short intervals of 30 s, interspersed with 30 s rest	Home-based workout with DVD instructions	8 weeks	3
			PRT	11	same functional exercises, intensity was progressively increased using a weight vest
Smati et al. 2022 [34] Canada Non-RCT	Children with cerebral palsy with GMFCS level III–IV; N = 9 (5 boys)	8.7 ± 1.7	HIIT	9	physical activities/ circuit training exercises mainly involved short sprints or fast walking (10–15 s) interspersed walking recovery period at self-selected speed (30–60 s)	Supervised by PE teachers and undergraduate students in kinesiology at a school	12 weeks	3
Soori et al. 2020 [35] Iran RCT	Adolescents with ADHD; N = 43 (20 boys)	12.6 ± 0.2 (HIIT) 12.5 ± 0.5 (CON)	HIIT	16	20 m running program repetitions interspersed with 20–30 s rest, ≥ 85% HRmax	Not reported	6 weeks	3
			CON	17	maintained their daily activities
Taylor et al. 2019 [36] Australia Non-RCT	Adolescents with serious mental illness; N = 30 (11 boys)	16.0 ± 1.2	HIIT	15	4 × 30 s maximal cycling sprints interspersed with 4 min recovery	Supervised by researchers at a hospital	8 weeks	3
			CON	15	received treatment as usual
Torabi et al. 2018 [37] Iran Non-RCT	Adolescents with ADHD; N = 50 (30 boys)	12.7 ± 1.1	HIIT	25	20 m running program repetitions interspersed with 20–30 s rest, ≥ 85% HRmax	Supervised by researchers at laboratories	6 weeks	3
			CON	25	no training throughout the experimental period
Wymbs et al.2021 [38] USA Crossover	Children with ADHD; N = 78 (57 boys)	9.7 ± 2.5	HIIT	78	~ 25 min in total, consisted of short bursts (2–5 min) of aerobic and anaerobic activity (e.g. running and doing jumping jacks) at 80–90% HRmax, interspersed with 2 min recovery	Supervised by undergraduate and graduate students trained by psychologists at a therapeutic summer camp	15 days	7
			CON	78	~ 25 min in total, consisted of short bouts (2–5 min) of low intensity activities (e.g. walking, yoga) at 50–75% HRmax, interspersed with 2 min recovery (self-controlled, children participated in high or low intensity exercise on alternating days)
Zwinkels et al. 2018 [39] Netherlands Non-RCT	Youth with physical disabilities N = 70 (38 boys)	13.4 ± 2.9	HIIT-runners	36	30 s all-out exercises interspersed with 90–120 s active recovery	Supervised by physical educators and/or physical therapists at schools	8 weeks	2
			HIIT-walkers	25	30 s all-out exercises interspersed with 90–120 s active recovery
			HIIT- wheelchair users	9	30 s all-out exercises interspersed with 90–120 s active recovery

CAT continuous aerobic training, CON control group, HR_max maximum heart rate, PRT progressive resistance training, RCT randomized controlled trial