Influence of working memory task and time on postural control of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
[Purpose] To investigate how balance changes develop across time under different conditions (with or without a memory task) for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). [Subjects and Methods] The participants were 11 children with ADHD and 12 normal children. To determine their static balance ability, a force plate was used to measure the center of the pressure trajectory. [Results] The length of the sway path became slightly greater in both groups when an additional memory task was added, but the difference was not statistically significant. However, it was interesting to note a significant difference in memory task ability across groups with increasing time. The ADHD group showed a decrease sway path with increasing time for the memory task, but in the control group it increased. [Conclusion] At first, the memory task interfered with ADHD children's performance; however, the memory task may improve their performance after a few seconds.
Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan.
Wen Lan
WL
Wu
Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan.
Ying-Yi
YY
Chen
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan.
Chih-Chung
CC
Wang
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Taiwan.
Chia-Hsin
CH
Chen
Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan.
Lan-Yuen
LY
Guo
Department of Physical Therapy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan.
Lih-Jiun
LJ
Liaw
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Mental task; Sway path