Fundamental movement skills and children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: peer comparisons and stimulant effects

J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2007 Oct;35(5):871-82. doi: 10.1007/s10802-007-9140-5.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the fundamental movement skills of 22 children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), from 6 to 12 years of age, to gender- and age-matched peers without ADHD and assess the effects of stimulant medication on the movement skill performance of the children with ADHD. Repeated measures analyses revealed significant skill differences between children with and without ADHD (p <or= 0.001). Results from the stimulant medication trials indicated no significant effect of medication on the movement skill patterns of children with ADHD. It is concluded that children with ADHD may be at risk for developmental delays in movement skill performance. Potential factors underlying the movement skill difficulties are discussed, with suggestions for future research.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / complications*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / drug therapy*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / pharmacology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Matched-Pair Analysis
  • Methylphenidate / pharmacology*
  • Motor Skills / drug effects
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Psychomotor Disorders / etiology*
  • Psychomotor Disorders / prevention & control

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Methylphenidate