Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and Response Inhibition Predict Balance in Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Some evidence indicates that adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have balance impairments. This study examined the associations between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), response inhibition (RI), and static balance in this population while off and on psychostimulant medication (PS). Participants ( = 40; 30 females; age = 29.0; SD = 6.3 years) wore an ActiGraph GT9X-link around their waist to estimate MVPA levels (minutes/day). To assess RI, participants completed the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) subtests Trail-Making Test (TMT) and Color-Word Interference Test (CWIT). To evaluate static balance, participants completed postural sway area (cm) assessments in four conditions: feet-apart eyes-open (FAEO), feet-apart eyes-closed (FAEC), feet-together eyes-open (FTEO), and feet-together eyes-closed (FTEC). Participants also completed the single-leg standing tests (seconds) with eyes open (SLEO) and with eyes closed (SLEC). When off medication, MVPA significantly predicted SLEC ( = 0.30; = 0.017). MVPA and TMT significantly predicted FTEO, explaining ~19% of the variance in FTEO; both MVPA and TMT were significant predictors ( = -0.33, = 0.027 and = -0.31, = 0.039, respectively). When on medication, TMT significantly predicted FAEC ( = 0.17; = 0.047). MVPA and RI may be effective parameters in predicting static balance in adults with ADHD when off medication only.