The Effect of Sustained Attention Tasks on Gait Pattern Variations in Children with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder: A Clinical Trial Study

Introduction: The current gait profile of children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is incomplete and mainly based on a short-time walking without the involvement of different senses. The aim of this study was to investigate the dual-task gait of ADHD and typically-developed (TD) children while receiving sustained visual-vestibular stimulus.Materials and Methods: ۲۱ children with ADHD and ۱۲ TD children (۷-۱۰ years) participated in the study. Participants walked on the treadmill in three self-selected speeds three-minute trials in single-task (without visual instructions) and dual-task (simultaneously following visual-vestibular saccade and smooth pursuit stimuli) conditions. Stride length, global angle of the dominant leg, step width, and the variability of these parameters were assessed using a factor analysis of variance at significant level of α = ۰.۰۵.Results: The effect of group-stimulus interaction on stride length was not significant (P = ۰.۸۶۰), but its variability was significant [less variability for typical children compared to children with ADHD (P = ۰.۰۰۱)]. The interactive effects on the global angle were significant (P = ۰.۰۰۱), but its variability was not significant (P = ۰.۷۲۰). In without instruction and in smooth pursuit conditions, significant ankle rotation was observed in children with ADHD (P = ۰.۰۰۱) compared to that of typical children. Step width (P = ۰.۰۰۱) and its variability (P = ۰.۰۰۳) were significantly affected and typical children had wider walking with less variability than the other groups (P = ۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: Different visual-vestibular instructions can affect the gait of the children with ADHD in various ways. These results can be considered as a basis for the integration of dualistic and synergy models and guidance for educators of children with ADHD.

کلیدواژه ها:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ، Gait ، Saccade ، Smooth Pursuit ، Vestibulo-ocular Reflex