ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a collection of symptoms that cause sufferers to have difficulty paying attention, controlling behavior or focusing on a task at hand. Adults can show signs of ADHD, but most of the research on the topic has been focused on children. Research shows that exercise can be beneficial to people who have attention disorders.
Exercise for ADHD
The appeal of using exercise as a treatment for ADHD is the natural aspect of physical activity. According to research from the Cleveland Clinic, as many as four million people in the United States take stimulant drugs to calm the impulsivity and help conquer the inattentiveness associated with the condition. Medications in this class can have potentially dangerous side effects, including hallucinations, the risk of heart problems and a general feeling of being "spaced out" or not completely alert. Exercise may not be a cure-all for everyone who has ADHD, but physical activity can be a natural or alternative treatment that can lift your mood and boost your attention skills without side effects. Harvard Medical School's associate professor of psychiatry John Ratey explains that some people who show symptoms of an attention deficit disorder may still need medication even when they do exercise, but others may be able to stop using stimulants altogether with an increase of physical activity.
Why Exercise Helps
Exercise is beneficial to those with ADHD because the endorphins your body releases during and after a workout cause your body to produce more serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. If you have ADHD, your levels of these chemicals are more likely lower than normal, which affects your ability to pay attention and focus. Working out not only elevates your attention system to new and consistent levels of alertness; the endorphins you release are sometimes called the "feel good" hormone because they can combat depressive moods.
A study reported in the September 2004 issue of the "American Journal of Public Health" asked parents to rate their children on factors including task completion, listening and ability to resist distraction after participating in "green" or outdoor activities. The majority of the parents surveyed reported that their children showed a reduction of symptoms after being outdoors. Some of the activities studied were physical in nature, while others were "quiet" activities like reading, but performed in an outdoor setting.
How Much Exercise?
ADHD sufferers do not need to become multi-sport athletes to reap the benefits of exercise, according to Dr. Ratey. Guidelines for physical activity mimic those set forth for most children and adults by the American Heart Association and other medical associations. Participation in a half-hour's worth of physical activity several days a week is sufficient. Sports that require teamwork or close attention to your body's stance, like martial arts or dance, can be especially helpful for children who have issues with focus.
Continuing Research
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that warrants continuing research. Treatment patterns and both long- and short-term outcomes for people who have ADHD can help future generations of sufferers as well as lead researchers to finding new, alternative solutions.
References
- "ADDitude" Magazine; Exercise: An Alternative ADHD Treatment Without Side Effects; December/January 2008
- "USA Today"; ADHD Treatment is Getting a Workout; Liz Szabo; Mar. 26, 2006
- "American Journal of Public Health";A Potential Natural Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence From a National Study; Frances E. Kuo and Andrea Faber Taylor; September 2004
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder Research; Apr. 2, 2010
- "Journal of Attention Disorders"; A Physical Activity Program Improves Behaviour and Cognitive Functions in Children With ADHD: An Exploratory Study; Claudia Verret, et al.; Sept. 13, 2010
