Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
behave better when they exercise, recent research suggests. Over the last
few years, studies in animals and people with ADHD have shown exercise may
reduce impulsivity and improve attention. The findings suggest exercise could
be used as an alternative ADHD treatment, or in combination with
medications, experts say. Researchers emphasize that studies so far have
been small, and much more work is needed to validate these results. And we
don't yet know what types of exercise, or what amount, might bring a benefit,
experts say. However, the findings raise concerns that taking away recess from kids with ADHD,
which is a common form of punishment for acting out in class, might actually
fuel more bad behavior, experts say.
"In general, kids who have ADHD need to have their gym
class, need to have their recess," said Dr. Melvin Oatis, a child
psychiatrist in New York City. Generally, if a teacher knows a child has ADHD,
they should use other forms of discipline, such as encouraging good behavior,
Oatis said.
Exercise benefits for ADHD
Currently, many of those who treat children with ADHD believe
exercise is helpful, and some use exercise recommendations as an adjunct to,
but not replacement for, medication, Oatis said. The idea is that children with
ADHD feel less restless and more focused after they expend some energy, Oatis
said. However, Oatis noted that this isn't the case for all children — some
kids' energy levels are ramped up after exercise, and they can't settle back
down, he said.
Exercise and ADHD medications act on the brain in very similar
ways, said Thomas Lenz, an associate pharmacy professor at Creighton University
in Omaha, Neb. Both are thought to increase levels of brain chemicals called
dopamine and norepinephrine, which help people think, focus and control their
actions, Lenz said. An imbalance of these chemicals is thought to contribute to
ADHD symptoms, Lenz said.
Researchers have just begun to study exercise as a potential
treatment for ADHD.
Recently, Betsy Hoza, a psychology professor at the University
of Vermont, and colleagues studied 17 children with ADHD, ages 5 to 8. The kids
participated in 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise, such as playing
tag, before school. After eight weeks, children showed improvements in impulsivity and
aggression, and were less likely to interrupt others, Hoza said. In addition,
about two-thirds of parents and teachers said the children had improved on the
whole after the program.
And David Bucci, an associate professor at Dartmouth College in
Hanover, N.H., has shown that rats with a condition similar to ADHD that are
allowed to exercise improve in their ability to ignore distracting stimuli,
compared with rats that don't exercise.
However, much remains unknown. Studies have not compared
exercise with ADHD medications to see if one is more
effective than the other, or if the two in combination have an additive
benefit, Hoza said. In addition, there may be sex differences in children's
responses, which researchers should explore, she said.
Take away recess?
It's a common scenario for children with ADHD to have recess
taken away as punishment for acting out in class, said Ruth Hughes, clinical
psychologist and CEO of Children and Adults with Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), who often hears from parents about the
issue. (CHADD is an ADHD support and advocacy organization.)
"It's very frustrating for parents," Hughes said.
"The need for that physical activity is important for these kids. They
would behave better if they had a chance to be running around in recess,"
she said. Lenz likened taking away recess from kids with ADHD to taking
away food from a person with low blood sugar who has become irritable. The
food, just like the recess, is what is needed to improve symptoms."You're actually just pulling away the treatment they need
to make that behavior become more in line," Lenz said.
However, Oatis, the child psychiatrist from New York, said, for
some children, taking away recess might motivate kids to change their behavior.
And because children with ADHD can have other mental health issues, including anxiety, bad
behavior in class may not necessarily be a result of their ADHD. "[It's]
not a one-size-fits-all," Oatis said. One of the best ways to help kids with ADHD behave better is to recognize
and reward good behavior, Hughes said. "Find your kid doing something
right, and make an example of it," she said.
Pass it on: Preliminary work
suggests exercise improves symptoms of ADHD. In general, teachers should not
take away recess from children with ADHD because the kids need it, experts say.
Follow MyHealthNewsDaily staff writer Rachael Rettner on
Twitter @RachaelRettner. Find us on Facebook.
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