Exercise May Lead to Better School Performance for Kids with ADHD

October 16, 2012 A few minutes of exercise can help children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) perform better academically, according to a new study led by a Michigan State University researcher. The study, published in the current issue of the Journal of Pediatrics, shows for the first time that kids with ADHD can better drown out distractions and focus on a task after a single bout of exercise. Scientists say such "inhibitory control" is the main challenge faced by people with the disorder. "This provides some very early evidence that exercise might be a tool in our nonpharmaceutical treatment of ADHD," said Matthew Pontifex, MSU assistant professor of kinesiology, who led the study. "Maybe our first course of action that we would recommend to developmental psychologists would be to increase children's physical activity." While drugs have proven largely effective in treating many of the 2.5 million school-aged American children with ADHD, a growing number of parents and physicians worry about the side effects and costs of medication. In the study, Pontifex and colleagues asked 40 children aged 8 to 10, half of whom had ADHD, to spend 20 minutes either walking briskly on a treadmill or reading while seated. The children then took a brief reading comprehension and math exam similar to longer standardized tests. They also played a simple computer game in which they had to ignore visual stimuli to quickly determine which direction a cartoon fish was swimming. The results showed all of the children performed better on both tests after exercising. In the computer game, those with ADHD also were better able to slow down after making an error to avoid repeat mistakes -- a particular challenge for those with the disorder. Pontifex said the findings support calls for more physical activity during the school day. Other researchers have found that children with ADHD are less likely to be physically active or play organized sports. Meanwhile, many schools have cut recess and physical education programs in response to shrinking budgets. "To date there really isn't a whole lot of evidence that schools can pull from to justify why these physical education programs should be in existence," he said. "So what we're trying to do is target our research to provide that type of evidence." Pontifex conducted the study for his doctoral dissertation at the University of Illinois before joining the MSU faculty. His co-investigators included his adviser, kinesiology professor Charles Hillman, and Daniel Picchietti, a pediatrician at the Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign, Ill. The research was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or simply ADHD is a common behavioral disorder that affects an estimated 8% to 10% of school-age children. It is not caused by poor parenting, too much sugar or vaccines as what others suspected. This disorder has biological origins that aren't yet clearly understood. No single cause has been identified, but researchers are exploring a number of possible genetic and environmental links. Past studies revealed that many kids with ADHD have a close relative who also has the disorder. Chemical changes in the brain have also been noticed. Certain areas of the brain are about 5% to 10% smaller in size and activity in kids with ADHD. Research also links smoking during pregnancy to the development of this disorder. Other risk factors may include premature delivery, very low birth weight, and injuries to the brain at birth. Boys are about three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with it, though it's not yet understood why. Children with ADHD demonstrate stubbornness, outbursts of temper, and acts of defiance and rule breaking. They are hyperactive, act without thinking and have trouble focusing. They may understand what's expected of them but have difficulty following through because they can't sit still, pay attention, or attend to details. Of course, all kids act this way at times, particularly when they're anxious or excited. But the difference with ADHD is that symptoms are present over a longer period of time and occur in different settings. And although it is not categorized as a learning disability, about half of all kids with this behavioral disorder also have specific learning problems. The most common are related with reading and handwriting. Its interference with concentration and attention make it even harder for a kid to perform well in school. In simpler words, the disorder impairs a child's ability to function not only socially but also academically. As an aspiring elementary teacher and as a cousin of a child with the same behavioral problem, this research caught my attention at instant. Ma. Rufina Angeles Igat, my partner, appreciated the topic as much as I did. We both think that ADHD is becoming a serious academic issue that calls for immediate action. So upon reading the report made by Michigan State University researcher, the two of us somehow felt relieved. It's nice to know that other people had been willing to exert much of their time and effort in trying to find a possible solution to the problem. However, with keen eyes, Mara and I didnt fail to notice that the news article seems to lack something... something we consider important. The study revealed that a few minutes of exercise can help children perform better in school, so we were actually hoping to see their list of recommended activities. We found nothing, though. Aside from that, we also noted that the researchers mentioned the participation of 40 children aged 8 to 10, half of whom had ADHD. The result showed that after exercising, all of them perform better on the given tests. All, which means that the benefit of the so-called nonpharmaceutical treatment is not only applicable to kids with ADHD. We also worried that the wrong choice of words like may, can, might, and

maybe will cause uncertainty to other readers. But in spite of those flaws that we point out, me and my partner still found ourselves approving the text and agreeing with its context. Majority of the people probably think that exercising will just increase the hyperactivity of kids with ADHD but through the publication of this research, there will an awareness that things work the other way around. We were actually surprised to know that exercises indeed help because we used to be parts of the majority. We also like the fact that the researchers are formulating behavioral treatments and not developing medications regarding this concern. Mara and I believe that since ADHD is a behavioral disorder, it needs to be treated in the same manner. For us, tablets, capsules, pills, drugs and the like are simply maintenance. They help, yes, but they did not cure. Actually, ADHD can't really be cured, the only good news is, it can be successfully managed. And the very reason why this research was conducted is to help a child learn how to control his or her own behavior and to help families create a more friendly atmosphere. Kids having ADHD should be given special attention and care. Instead of yelling or spanking every time a misconduct was done, it is better to use timeouts or removal of privileges as consequences for inappropriate behavior and setting up a system of consistent rewards for the appropriate ones. In that way, children will easily distinguish right from wrong. We would like to emphasize that proper guidance, compared to any other medicine, is priceless. And upon saying this, we are not only addressing to the parents but also to the teachers. We all know that the educators play a vital role, alongside the family, in shaping the young people of our nation. What children learn and experience can affect their view of themselves and the world. It can determine their later success or failure in life. It is crucial Thus, the school which is considered as the second home of kids should provide guidance equivalent to that given at the house. In the study, the issue about shrinking budgets was brought out. This, according to the researchers, is the reason why most schools (particularly public schools) nowadays have cut recess and physical education programs. Such activities are considered as less important and are therefore, omitted. "To date there really isn't a whole lot of evidence that schools can pull from to justify why these physical education programs should be in existence," said Matthew Pontifex, MSU assistant professor of kinesiology, who led the study. "So what we're trying to do is target our research to provide that type of evidence." Pontifex added that their findings support calls for more physical activity. Mara and I definitely agreed. We can see no reason to oppose. Can you?