Fitness, physical activity, and motor performance across the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder spectrum

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition associated not only with difficulties in attention, impulsivity, and executive function, but also with motor difficulties. Compared with people without ADHD, individuals with ADHD may be less physically active, more sedentary, or less likely to participate consistently in organized and recreational physical activity. These patterns may contribute to lower cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, balance, coordination, or other aspects of physical function, although findings vary according to age, sex and gender, ADHD presentation, comorbidities, socioeconomic circumstances, and measurement methods. Motor difficulties may also influence participation in physical activity and create a cycle in which reduced activity contributes to poorer fitness and health outcomes. These ADHD-related impairments in motor planning, execution and control in ADHD are often accompanied by cognitive impairments (e.g., timing variability) with numerous suggested underpinning mechanisms, including executive functions and internal motor representation of action. At the same time, stimulant medications are widely prescribed for ADHD, yet their effects on motor function, coordination, reaction time, exercise responses, and physical performance and other cognitive functions remain insufficiently understood. Existing studies have reported beneficial, adverse, or negligible effects, highlighting the need for more consistent and clinically relevant investigation.This Research Topic aims to examine physical fitness, physical function, motor performance, physical activity, and sedentary behavior and other motor-cognitive aspects in people with ADHD across the life course. A particular focus will be placed on identifying whether and why people with ADHD differ in fitness and motor outcomes from people without ADHD, and on determining how stimulant and non-stimulant medications affect motor function and physical performance. Relevant questions include whether medication improves or impairs coordination, balance, reaction time, gait, agility, strength, endurance, or participation in physical activity; whether effects differ according to medication dose, timing, treatment duration, or age; and whether medication-related changes are associated with meaningful health or functional outcomes. The Research Topic will also consider the contribution of physical activity-including motor-cognitive approaches- to improving fitness, motor competence, health, and quality of life among people with ADHD. Given the substantial body of research already examining the effects of physical activity and exercise on core ADHD symptoms, studies focused exclusively on symptom reduction will receive less emphasis. Priority will instead be given to studies that assess fitness, motor, functional, participation, or broader health outcomes.To gather further insights into physical fitness and motor function in ADHD, this Research Topic will welcome studies involving children, adolescents, and adults in clinical, educational, community, occupational, and sporting settings. Research should link fitness or motor outcomes to health, physical activity participation, disease management, quality of life, or public health, rather than focusing solely on ADHD symptom reduction or isolated laboratory performance measures. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:1. Comparisons of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, endurance, balance, coordination, agility, and physical function in people with and without ADHD.2. Associations between ADHD symptoms, ADHD presentation, executive function, motor competence, and physical fitness.3. Effects of stimulant and non-stimulant medications on motor coordination, balance, gait, reaction time, agility, strength, endurance, and exercise performance.4. Differences in motor function and fitness between medicated and unmedicated people with ADHD.5. Acute and long-term effects of medication, including the influence of dose, timing, treatment duration, and treatment adherence.6. The role of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sport participation in explaining fitness and motor differences in ADHD.7. Relationships between motor difficulties, lower fitness, physical activity participation, health, and quality of life.8. Effects of physical activity and exercise (including motor-cognitive) interventions on physical fitness, motor competence, functional outcomes, physical activity participation, health, and quality of life.9. Influence of age, sex and gender, ADHD presentation, comorbidities, and socioeconomic circumstances on fitness and medication-related motor outcomes.10. Measurement approaches using accelerometry, wearable devices, fitness testing, motor-performance assessments, clinical measures, and patient-reported outcomes.11. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, longitudinal studies, intervention studies, and clinical or population-based research addressing these themes.12. Inclusive research involving underrepresented populations and groups with unequal access to healthcare, physical activity, sport, or rehabilitation services.Accepted article types: Original Research, Systematic Review, Clinical Trial, Brief Research Report, Review, Mini Review, Methods, Study Protocol, Registered Report, Perspective, Hypothesis and Theory, Policy and Practice Reviews Topic editors: Sharon Tsuk, Amit Abraham Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86500/fitness-physical-activity-and-motor-performance-across-the-attention-deficithyperactivity-disorder-spectrum