Exercise offers hope for ADHD/Prescription Drug Epidemic

Exercise offers hope for ADHD/Prescription Drug Epidemic

By Dr. George I. Traitses

The CDC says 6.1% of American children were taking an ADHD medication like Adderall or Ritalin in 2011 (the latest data available), up from 4.8% in 2007. Eleven percent of children were diagnosed with ADHD in 2011, also up from 7.8% in 2003. Despite the well-documented dangers of ADHD drugs (and legitimate questions about the diagnosis), the trend doesn’t seem likely to reverse any time soon.

A new study offers hope, however, finding that regular half-hour sessions of exercise before school helped quell ADHD symptoms, improving mood, attentiveness, behavior, even academic performance. Some allopathic doctors who treat kids diagnosed with ADHD say they already prescribe exercise as part of therapy, and teachers have found that exercise during the day helps their ADHD-diagnosed kids. The new research may make exercise a more commonplace treatment modality, however, perhaps one day, replacing harmful drugs altogether. The study followed 202 children in Vermont and Indiana over 12 weeks. It was published recently in The Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.

Source: “Researchers hope physical activity can stem growing use of ADHD medications,” Foxnews.com, September 9, 2014.

For more information on health and safety visit the Ontario Chiropractic Association; website at www.chiropractic.on.ca or call 1877-327-2273; Dr. George Traitses, 416-499-5656, www.infinite-health.com