Exercise is ADHD Medication

It’s not uncommon for the coaches to hear athletes express how their workout keeps them “sane.” That hour of sweating, pushing their physical and mental limits, and engagement in structured class gives them focus and drive to deal with and pursue the rest of their day.

So it’s not surprising that new research supports the linkage between child exercise and academic performance, and as you’ll see in the article below, specifically for children with signs of ADHD.

Exercise is ADHD Medication
Physical movement improves mental focus, memory, and cognitive flexibility; new research shows just how critical it is to academic performance.

Does exercise keep you sane, focused, or able to get work done? Post to comments.

Jennifer Kievit

May 26, 2015 at 10:29 pm

Interesting for children but what about adults diagnosed later in life?
Before my adult diagnosis just a few months ago, and just about the time my coping mechanisms were showing signs of failure, I had a particular experience during oly class that was like a Charlie Brown cartoon. On that day, Ryan gave explicit set up cues for whatever movement we were working on and while staring at him intensely, all I could hear was the ringing in my ears and the panic in mind b/c I couldn’t make out what he was saying, kinda like the teacher’s voice from Charlie Brown. I was so panicked that I missed the cues that I thought to myself, omg, what are we doing, what is the rep sequence, and I had that awful dreaded feeling in the pit of my stomach…then as Ryan came around to me, to watch me lift, I couldn’t hide it, I had to fess up and admit I couldn’t remember what we where supposed to do, he had to explain again and I made my lift, all the while hiding why I had to ask again.
There were many episodes like this, many times before, in many aspects of my life that have been dismissed as part of my artist’s process or as a non dedicated athlete..someone with their head in the clouds not focusing or as a daughter or wife that doesn’t listen. It’s frustrating and at times, could be socially awkward.
Fast forward a few months, and I am grateful for my diagnosis and my therapies to help me function in a more “normal” way. Exercise, aka CrossFit helps, but too much upsets the delicate balance of neurotransmitters in my brain and I am back at the same place before diagnosis.
I hope that exercise at a young age can change the course of this diagnosis.

1 Response

Jennifer Kievit

May 26, 2015 at 10:29 pm

Interesting for children but what about adults diagnosed later in life?
Before my adult diagnosis just a few months ago, and just about the time my coping mechanisms were showing signs of failure, I had a particular experience during oly class that was like a Charlie Brown cartoon. On that day, Ryan gave explicit set up cues for whatever movement we were working on and while staring at him intensely, all I could hear was the ringing in my ears and the panic in mind b/c I couldn’t make out what he was saying, kinda like the teacher’s voice from Charlie Brown. I was so panicked that I missed the cues that I thought to myself, omg, what are we doing, what is the rep sequence, and I had that awful dreaded feeling in the pit of my stomach…then as Ryan came around to me, to watch me lift, I couldn’t hide it, I had to fess up and admit I couldn’t remember what we where supposed to do, he had to explain again and I made my lift, all the while hiding why I had to ask again.
There were many episodes like this, many times before, in many aspects of my life that have been dismissed as part of my artist’s process or as a non dedicated athlete..someone with their head in the clouds not focusing or as a daughter or wife that doesn’t listen. It’s frustrating and at times, could be socially awkward.
Fast forward a few months, and I am grateful for my diagnosis and my therapies to help me function in a more “normal” way. Exercise, aka CrossFit helps, but too much upsets the delicate balance of neurotransmitters in my brain and I am back at the same place before diagnosis.
I hope that exercise at a young age can change the course of this diagnosis.