Balance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-combined type

Area of Science:

• Pediatric neurology
• Developmental psychology
• Motor control

Background:

• Balance ability in children with ADHD-C is not fully understood, with conflicting research findings.
• Dynamic sitting balance in this population requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare static and dynamic balance abilities between children with ADHD-C and healthy controls.
• To identify specific balance deficits in children with ADHD-C.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) balance subtests.
• Employed a motion-capture system for a mechanical horseback riding balance test.
• Compared 20 children with ADHD-C to 20 age-, sex-, height-, weight-, and IQ-matched controls.

Main Results:

• Children with ADHD-C demonstrated less consistent movement patterns and greater deviation during the horseback riding test.
• ADHD-C group showed less effective balance strategies compared to controls.
• Performance on MABC and BOTMP balance subtests was significantly lower in children with ADHD-C.

Conclusions:

• Children with ADHD-C generally possess lower static and dynamic balance skill levels than their typically developing peers.
• Balance deficits are evident across various aspects of motor control in children with ADHD-C.