Can Wiggling and Exercising Actually Help Improve Our Attention?
As a Tampa Chiropractor I’ve witnessed plenty of fidgeting children in my office. When children just can’t seem to get their arms and legs into a comfortable position, the first thing most adults want to say (or want to say) is “sit still!” But such continuous movement, it turns out, may actually help children, and adults as well, to stay more focused. Whether you know a child who can’t sit still, or you’re the one who fidgets, I think that you will find the following article extremely interesting.
Learning While Fidgeting: ADHD
Do you remember being a school child and having some difficulty sitting still after a certain amount of time? I certainly do. In fact, I remember the oncer per week assembly when I was in elementary school. It was required that we all sit up, feet flat on the floor and elbows off of the elbow rest. I never could understand the wisdom behind not being allowed to use the elbow rests to rest our elbows. But, the rule was strictly enforced. I had great difficulty with this because I wanted to fidget and so did all of my classmates. Worse than that, we had to pay attention. There were times when we were told things that we were required to repeat to our parents that evening. As much as I struggled to pay attention and remember, the message went by me with the speed of light. I often asked and even begged my classmates, after assembly, what the message was. Depending on whether they were in a mood to torture me or not, my friends just might repeat the message to me. You see, it is not that I forgot the message. Rather, I never heard the message. But, the worst part of the whole thing was being told to “sit still.” Try as I might, I just could not. I had to fidget!
Even now, my wife will ask me, “why are you jiggling?” And my answer is always: “Uh, I don’t know.”
I am now 66 years of age. When I was a child in elementary school, no one ever heard of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). To be specific, I had the ADD part of the problem with very little hyperacitivity (except for the jiggle), but just enough to get me in trouble by talking a little too much and feeling the need to put my elbows on the elbow rest. There were many instructions that I simply never heard and, therefore, got things wrong. It got to the point where I suspected that I might just be dumb. I was not dumb, but I had and still have ADD. At some point in my school life I learned to compenstate for my problems without realizing that this was what I was doing. In other words, with no diagnosis but a suspicion about myself that something was wrong, I taught myself ways to get and retain the informaton that I needed. That is how I got through graduate school with two Master’s degrees and a PhD.
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A recent, small but significant study revealed the possibility that allowing adhd kids to squirm is better for them than demanding that they sit still. Counter to the old school maxim, “sit still and pay attention,” the study indicates that letting them squirm helps them pay attention. Mark Rapport, University of Central Florida School Psychology Professor, conducted a small study using 23 boys ages 8 to 12 and took 4 years to meticulously study them. His study yielded some interesting data.
First, children with ADD cannot follow complicated instructions. If you tell them to open their book to page twelve, do problems 4,5,9 and and do not do the rest of them, the ADD children will forget everything after open the book to page twelve. Assignments must be given in segments so that their working memory is not over taxed. In addition, allowing the fidgeting may actually help these kids focus their attention instead of demanding that they sit still.
Ahhh, I really believe that if I had been allowed to jiggle away in elementary school I might have done a lot better by being better able to hear things.
Another recent study cited the fact that all elementary and middle school children perform better if they have had time during the day to get plenty of exercise.
Children with either Add or ADHD are not stupid, lazy or unmotivated. They do not store memory in the same way others do and they need to be taught ways to help them remember what they must do. Teachers and parents have to help these kids learn how to compensate for these problems and keep in mind that these children are really not hearing or remembering compex instructions.
At the same time, all children need plenty of time to exercise and not just after school.
It seems that wiggling and exercising helps all of us improve our attention.
Article written by Allan N. Schwartz, LCSW, PhD on Sun, Apr 26th 2009
How Can Chiropractic Care Help Arthritis?
One of the most frequently misunderstood conditions among patients is arthritis..When some people hear this word they contemplate a future with crippled and twisted joints. However, many conditions from benign to severe are listed under the term, arthritis. For our purposes we will restrict this discourse to the most common forms of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care
The most common form of arthritis has many names: osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), and spondylosis if it is in the spine. Basically, the condition is due to the wearing out of the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces, and it is found not only in humans, but also in all mammals. Degenerative changes in the joint happens when joint cartilage is damaged and causes stress to the sensitive bone tissue that is normally protected by the cartilage. Sometimes the bone around the joint will proliferate and make osteophytes, or what are more commonly called bone spurs. These spurs can produce painful irritation to other tissues around the joint, in this way complicating the already painful condition.
Degenerative joints as a rule occur in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, hips, and fingers. Everyone may experience DJD at one point in their lives, though previous trauma, ones occupation, activities, weight, diet, and heredity influence the degree of the condition and its onset.
The symptoms of DJD always involve some degree of pain and/or stiffness in the body part involved, for instance, neck pain. As the condition advances there can be loss of mobility, notably when weight-bearing joints such as hips or knees are involved. As a last resort joints can be surgically replaced with synthetic devices. This should be done only in severe cases where the joint is measurably worn and movement is unattainable without severe pain.
Prevention is invariably the best option, beginning at an early age.
* One should always guarantee that, especially when young, all injuries to joints are correctly managed to insure proper healing to avoid future disability.
* Shoes with suitable support and shock absorption should be worn by those whose jobs require extended periods of standing or walking.
* Weight loss through proper diet will help to reduce stress on weight-bearing body joints.
* Avoid kneeling on hard surfaces, such as when doing housework, as this can put strain and produce knee pain.
* The natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants provided by fruits and vegetables are crucial for healthy joints and a healthy body.
Recently there have been some studies that reveal that the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can help with DJD and may actually help rebuild joint cartilage. However, it must be used over a long-term period and does not work in all conditions.
Chiropractic adjustments assist in restoring proper mobility and function to the spinal joints. Chiropractic care is not only a smart idea, but extremely effective in relieving the debilitating pain of arthritis. Your Chicago chiropractor is highly trained when it comes to arthritic pain relief. Other forms of chiropractic care may include joint mobilization, massage, ultrasound, cold laser, or electro-therapy, all of which may be helpful in the relief of painful and stiff joints. Occasionally, a brace is required to stabilize the joint and relieve pain. A chiropractor may suggest exercises such as stretching, yoga, tai chi and other gentle mobilizing activities to help maintain arthritic joints.
Gout
Gouty arthritis is generated by increased levels of uric acid in the blood and the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. Generally, gouty arthritis is characterized by acute pain and swelling of the joints in the big toes, knees, ankles and wrists. Most people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are generally brought on by binge eating of inflammatory foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Foods that need to be avoided have a natural substance called Purines that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Those with this condition cannot efficiently metabolize uric acid, thus the buildup in the bloodstream and the resultant joint problems. The foods most connected with high purine content are: red meat especially organ meat, certain seafood, legumes, mushrooms and other foods as well. There are other dietary restrictions that must be followed including the avoidance of alcohol.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease, is systemic in nature and thought to be produced by immune system dysfunction. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, though other areas of the body can be affected as well. Morning stiffness made more painful by movement is usually associated with the disease. Frequently people complain of general malaise and fatigue, and the disease in its more advanced forms can affect many of the other body systems. Rheumatoid arthritis can be easily identified through specific blood tests. Though, currently, there is no cure, in Addition to medication and vitamin and diet therapy, treatment should include chiropractic treatments to mobilize joints and help to relieve the pain and stiffness associated with this disease. Additional modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy, and massage may also be beneficial. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to supporting people in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.
The Chiropractic Therapy That Helps Scoliosis Pain
Scoliosis an Introduction
A normal spine looks straight, without much deviation from side-to-side, when the body is seen from behind. But, if the spine is viewed to have a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature, the person might have an affliction called scoliosis.The condition shouldn’t be confused with poor posture, even though it often gives the appearance that the patient is leaning to one side. Scoliosis is a complicated deformity that is defined by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra often causing a symptomatic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is created by the vertebrae in the zone of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their fastened ribs posterior hence causing the distinctive rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. If the thoracic curve and rib rotation are severe, greater than 70 degrees, pulmonary and cardiac function can be impeded. Frequently later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients, this intensity of curve and consequential cardiac and pulmonary changes can be life threatening.
Anatomy
The spine displays four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral, all of which are apparent from a side view of the trunk. In the lower spine there is a healthy “C-shaped” curve called swayback or lordosis, while the thoracic curve in the chest region has a “reverse C” called a kyphosis. Increased kyphosis in the thoracic area is called hyperkyphosis, while increased swayback is termed, hyperlordosis. Scoliosis changes regularly accompany diversions from normal on a side view. Some round back deformities are simply due to poor posture and can often be corrected with postural exercises. A small portion of people with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are associated with vertebral deformity. This kind of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more problematic to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.
Even a nonprofessional can help to identify a child or grownup with scoliosis merely by looking at the person in a standing position, preferably with no shirt and in briefs, and observing the following:
- One shoulder may be higher than the other.
- One scapula (shoulder blade) may be higher or more prominent than the other.
- There may be more area between the arm and the body on one side when the arms hang relaxed at the side.
- One hip may appear to be more elevated or more conspicuous than the other.
- The head is not aligned with the pelvis.
- One side of the back appears more raised than the other when the individual is observed from the rear and asked to flex forward until the the spine is horizontal.
Once scoliosis is identified, the child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further evaluation. your chiropractor would be happy to help.
The most common kind of scoliosis is, by far, Idiopathic, and although there are many different roots and many types, Idiopathic Scoliosis accounts for about 85% of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is observed with equal occurrence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. Depending on the age of onset, this condition can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent categories. Idiopathic Scoliosis commonly runs in families and may be linked to genetic or hereditary influences. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves grow in size and require treatment. As the term “Idiopathic Scoliosis” implies, this kind of scoliosis commonly occurs when children are finishing their last major growth spurt. It is smart to have this age group viewed by a professional on a regular basis because young people are disinclined to permit their body to be seen by parents or other adults.
If a scoliotic curve is observed in the growing adolescent, it is very important that the curves be monitored for advancement by periodic examination and sometimes standing X-rays. In ninety percent of cases, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, but increases in spinal deformity demand evaluation to decide if a brace or other therapy is needed. In a small number of people, surgical treatment may be necessary.~Surgery may be necessary for a small number of individuals.
Brace therapy (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is observed, or when new cases of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are found. There are quite a few types of braces, all created to prevent curves from increasing through the process of acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Bracing is effective in preventing curve progression in a very large percentage of skeletally-immature adolescents. However, braces generally won’t make the spine entirely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from progressing.
Scoliosis has no simple resolution. Nearly all cases, even though frequently monitored, are not actively treated. The standard medical treatment for moderate conditions is a brace, whereas severe conditions in some cases are treated surgically. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.
Specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments are among the complementary treatments used in addition to bracing. It seems like the most effective results have been supported with a multi-faceted approach to the management of this abnormality.
There are chiropractors, that have years of experience managing scoliosis conditions.
Drums and Disabilities (DAD)
Honolulu Chiropractor: I just discovered this post and thought I’d share it. Check out their website.
Drums and Disabilities (DAD) is a non-profit organization that helps children and adults with autism, dyslexia, Add, adhd, Tourettes, Asperger’s, Asperger’s, OCD, and ODD to deveop and expand retention, coordination, self-esteem, and physical and cognitive functioning, according to the Web site.
Visit http://www.dadprogram.org
Drum Therapy is “an intervention to provide the special needs community with the opportunity to participate in creative, verbal, and non-verbal expression.” The organization will license psychologists, school systems, occupational therapists, physical therapists, music therapists, and teachers in the DAD method.
The DAD segments strengthen cognitive and social skills and offer a valuable diagnostic tool. Participants meet goals and grow in self-esteem.
The site tells us that the DAD program helps participants to
- improve their ability to identify feelings and behavior
- improve communication skills
- channel and discharge strong feelings safely through rhythm
- gain valuable insight into feelings and maladaptive thoughts
- demonstrate improved fine motor skills, retention, and coordination
- demonstrate improved psychomotor skills
- demonstrate improved social skills through a group activity
- gain self-confidence as a major participant in artistic projects
- demosntrate improved tolerance for frustration
- develop personal expression through creative artistic effort
In addition, there is an evaluation component. A drum therapist is observing the participant in action, as well as the participant’s artwork, creative expression, verbalization, using the DAD Program Assessment.
And interdisciplinary conferences are held for parents, therapists and educators.
Inconsistent Performance Speed Among Children With ADHD May Underlie How Well They Use Memory
As a Santa Barbara Chiropractor with special training in chiropractic neurology, in the field of ADHD, I fould this new research interesting and am glad to be able to share it.
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“We think poor working memory is a characteristic present in many children and adults with ADHD,” said Schweitzer, an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The current study, published online in February in the journal Child Neuropsychology, supports the idea that what underlies impaired working memory is a problem in how consistently a child with ADHD can respond during a working memory task. The current study took a closer look at their performance using a relatively newer statistical analytical approach, to determine whether the children with adhd were indeed faster, slower, or if perhaps another, more complicated process was occurring. The hypothesis was that children with ADHD were actually mostly responding at the same rate as healthy children, but with more frequent very slow responses than the control subjects. Buzy said that the children with ADHD had more frequent longer response times when compared with their typically developing peers, but the responses they did give were just as accurate. Previous studies compared only the range of reaction times and average reaction times for children with ADHD and controls. The researchers also showed that working memory variability correlated with ADHD symptoms as scored by parent surveys (using the Conners’ ADHD rating scale) prior to testing. The current results led another Schweitzer laboratory member, postdoctoral fellow Catherine Fassbender, to design a study looking at variability in response time during a working memory task in the brains of children with ADHD using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).