July 15, 2026, 3:26 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
In sports like soccer, American football, or many martial arts, hard ball contacts and collisions are commonplace. Consequently, the risk of sports-related concussions is high–and for people with ADHD, it seems even higher. This is the conclusion of a recent review. It also shows that ADHD can complicate the diagnosis and possibly the recovery process after a concussion. FITBOOK explains the details.
Sports-Related Concussions and ADHD
ADHD (short for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurological developmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and difficulties in planning and controlling actions. Often, concentration and memory problems, as well as emotional changes, also occur.
Similar symptoms are common after a sports-related concussion, one of the most frequent injuries in competitive sports.1 It results from direct or indirect force applied to the head or body. Although classified as a mild traumatic brain injury, a sports-related concussion often leads to symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and concentration difficulties. The mentioned memory problems and emotional changes are also typical. Therefore, distinguishing between pre-existing issues and new injury-related symptoms is often challenging.
The aim of the study was to compile previous research findings and provide an overview of how ADHD affects the risk of concussions, their diagnosis, and the recovery process. The topic has personal relevance for Corbit Franks, co-author of the study presented here.2 The sports scientist lives with ADHD and played baseball and American football in his youth. Back then, head injuries sustained on the field were not investigated–today, he assumes he has suffered several concussions over the years.3
Details of the Study
The study design was a narrative literature review–a type of scientific literature search that reflects the current state of research without statistically combining results. The focus was on studies from the past ten to fifteen years–older works were only considered if they provided fundamental insights into ADHD or concussions. These studies had to address at least one of the following topics:
- the risk of sports-related concussions in athletes with ADHD,
- neurocognitive tests and symptom assessment, or
- the recovery process and clinical treatment outcomes.
The authors emphasize prioritizing studies with high methodological quality, larger participant numbers, and direct relevance to athletes. Case reports and non-peer-reviewed publications were generally excluded unless they provided a unique conceptual contribution.
Athletes with ADHD Have Greater Susceptibility to Injuries
As the researchers explain, the available data supports the assumption that athletes with ADHD are more likely to suffer a sports-related concussion than athletes without the diagnosis. In several of the studies examined, the risk was between 1.6 and 2.5 times higher, with some studies even suggesting roughly double the susceptibility to injuries. The authors cite poorer concentration and impulse control in ADHD as a possible reason for this.
Diagnosis also seems to be more challenging for those with ADHD who suffer a concussion. Affected individuals reportedly experience similar symptoms even before an injury. Additionally, they often achieve lower baseline scores in neurocognitive tests and more frequently have invalid baseline tests. This makes it harder to determine which changes are truly due to a concussion.
The study findings on the recovery process are not quite as clear. As the authors explain, observations partly suggest that athletes with ADHD take an average of four to six days longer to return to school and sports. Other studies, however, found no longer overall recovery time for ADHD but described longer-lasting impairments in individual cognitive abilities.
An open question has emerged at this point. As the authors explain, it is still unclear whether medications reduce the risk or influence healing. In this context, further action must be decided individually, considering personal circumstances and tolerability.
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Possible Significance of the Results
The researchers conclude from the literature review that ADHD can affect both the risk of injury and the reliability of diagnostic procedures. Therefore, ADHD should be considered a significant factor in assessing a concussion in athletes.
The authors emphasize the importance of individual baseline assessments of athletes before each season. Doctors, sports physicians, coaches, and caregivers should not evaluate test results in isolation. The researchers recommend a thorough medical history and consideration of existing ADHD symptoms.
If necessary, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other professionals should be involved in the treatment. It is important to educate athletes, coaches, and medical staff about the overlap between ADHD and concussion symptoms. This could help identify and appropriately treat injuries earlier.
Limitations
The work summarizes existing research and contextualizes it. Since the authors did not conduct a statistical summary of the results, no new effect sizes can be calculated or clear causal relationships derived.
Furthermore, the researchers acknowledge certain weaknesses in the studies considered, which were very differently structured: Both observational studies, including cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, and experimental investigations were included. Many of the studies involved relatively small participant groups. Additionally, the works used different diagnostic criteria for ADHD or various test methods to assess concussions. And: Numerous studies rely on participants’ self-reports about previous concussions. Therefore, memory errors or incomplete information are possible. Also, potential influencing factors (such as age or gender, any medication intake, and specific sports) were not equally considered in all studies.
For these reasons, it is now important to conduct larger long-term studies with standardized investigation methods and longer follow-up periods. This could help assess the impact of ADHD on injury risk, diagnosis, and recovery more reliably.