Impact Of Adhd On Tandem Gait Performance In Collegiate Athletes: A Comparison Of Single- And Dual-task Conditions

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been associated with cognitive and motor control challenges, but its influence on tandem gait performance in athletes remains underexplored. Single-task (ST) and Dual-task (DT) tandem gait assessments provide insights into postural control under varying cognitive loads. PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of ADHD on ST and DT tandem gait performance in NCAA Division I athletes. METHODS: A total of 344 athletes (166 males and 178 females; 322 without ADHD, 22 with ADHD; avg. age = 20.8 ± 1.3 years) completed tandem gait trials under both ST and DT conditions. Each athlete completed three ST trials and three DT trials, with the order of trials pseudorandomized during their pre-season baselines. In the ST condition, athletes were instructed to walk heel-to-toe (tandem walk) along a straight line. In the DT condition, athletes performed the same heel-to-toe walk while subtracting sevens from a random number aloud, adding a cognitive load to assess postural performance under dual-task conditions. Gait times were recorded, and best times were compared between athletes with and without ADHD. RESULTS: Descriptive analysis indicated that athletes with ADHD had longer average times in both ST (ADHD: 11.41 ± 2.62 s, No ADHD: 10.69 ± 2.21 s) and DT (ADHD: 12.43 ± 2.68 s, No ADHD: 11.85 ± 2.38 s) conditions. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between groups for ST times (p = 0.145, η2 = 0.006) or DT times (p = 0.268, η2 = 0.004). Cohen's d calculations indicated small effect sizes for both conditions (ST: d = 0.32, DT: d = 0.24), suggesting slight differences in performance, particularly under single-task conditions. CONCLUSIONS: While athletes with ADHD exhibited marginally longer tandem gait times, these differences were not statistically significant, possibly due to sample size constraints. The observed trends, along with small effect sizes, suggest that ADHD may affect postural control more noticeably under single-task conditions. This finding warrants further research with larger samples to explore potential implications for tailored training and injury prevention strategies in athletes.