RtR: Burning Off Excess Energy

Welcome back to Reading the Research! I trawl the Internet to find noteworthy research on autism and related subjects to share with you. Along the way I discuss the findings with bits from my own life, research, and observations.

Today’s article suggests a therapy for ADHD that involves zero drugs. Based on my own experience, I’ll expand it to include autism, anxiety, and depression as well. This wonderful therapy is called “movement,” and it can be free with the right strategies.

Movement. Not exercise. We’ve all heard plenty about exercise over the years, I’m sure. It’s very healthy. It’s good for everyone. You should be doing it, here’s a big dose of guilt that you aren’t. Maybe every January 1st it’s in your list of “things I need to improve on.”

The thing is, when I picture exercise, it tends to be potentially boring things, like going to the gym or using some kind of stationary indoor machine. I don’t think I’m alone in picturing these things. If you love those things, that’s great! But many people don’t. I’m one of them. Going to the gym is boring to me. I’d rather be at home playing video games.

What is Movement?

Movement is a broader category. Movement includes things like going geocaching. Geocaching includes walking, going outside, and sometimes even hiking. But the point isn’t really the movement, it’s the fun of exploring, finding the cache, and being part of a larger community that does this activity.

Movement is dancing to your favorite songs, or playing frisbee golf at a local park with your friends. Movement is yoga classes with a buddy, joining a community sports team, or cleaning the house. It’s taking your bike instead of your car or public transit to places. Or playing active games with your kids. Even playing an instrument counts.

The study talks about the benefits of daily exercise for young ADHD boys, mainly. Kids need to move. They’re bursting with energy. Restraining them in school seats for hours is bound to result in unhappy and unfocused kids. This is honestly common sense. It boggles my mind we need to be told that exercise helps ADHD kids.

As I understand it, though, the focus of school has shifted from teaching subjects well to “achieving high test scores.” One after another, school districts have sacrificed the fine arts and hands-on classes, like music, painting, shop class, recess, and home economics, to funnel more money into those apparently all-important test scores. This was actually already happening two decades ago when I was in school. It’s only gotten worse since.

Why Movement?

Well, quite frankly, because I have less energy to spend being anxious when I have movement in my life. Movement burns off the extra energy, calming me down and letting me focus on what I want to pay attention to. I’ve talked about this before, but it bears repeating.

Right now I work a job that keeps me active for at least 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. While it definitely takes a toll on my body, mentally I’m calmer, happier, and more focused. I have no doubt the same is true for the ADHD kids in the study. And it could also be true for you, if you find a form of movement that you enjoy for its own sake.

(Pst! If you like seeing the latest autism-relevant research, visit my Twitter! There are links and comments on studies that were interesting, but didn’t get a whole Reading the Research article about them.)