The Effect of Pharmacological Treatment for ADHD on Physical Performance in Male Adolescents

This study is designed as a single-center, crossover, randomized study. 70 high-school aged males aged between 15 and 18 years with a diagnosis of ADHD who are being treated pharmacologically using stimulants (such as Ritalin, Concerta, Vyvanse etc) will be recruited. The study will investigate motor performance using several motor function tests both with and without the influence of stimulant ADHD medications.

Participants will be assessed on two separate occasions, both sessions will occur during the morning in their regular school environment. During the sessions, participants will be randomized, 50% will be assessed one hour after taking their usual stimulant ADHD medication and the other 50% will be asked to postpone taking their usual stimulant ADHD medication until the session is finished. During the two separate sessions, all participants will be asked to perform the following motor tests: plank, single leg stance test, standing long jump test (broad jump), 4 x 10 agility tests and 20 m shuttle run tests (beeps).