You probably have heard of the craze: fidget spinners! The spinning toys come in a variety of colors and cost only a few dollars. Despite causing nuisance to many adults and school teachers (they are even banned in some school districts!), some experts say these toys can benefit some children with ADHD. Children with ADHD can be fidgety, from tapping feet to bouncing on seat.
Almost two million Americans each year suffer from a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI’s occur as a result of physical trauma to the brain. The most common symptoms include headaches, memory loss, depression, and/or personality changes. Upon violent impact to the head, a chemical called glutamate accumulates in the brain.
For those with brain injury or mental illness, wouldn’t it be nice to “hear” and “see” what is going inside your body in order to gage progress and plan for improvement? Stress, anxiety, and depression are very complex phenomenon with a basis inside the brain. Biofeedback is essentially a tool that measures how your body reacts to various neurological states.
What if there was a way to treat ADHD without taking a trip to the pharmacy? Believe it or not, this idea is not too farfetched. Many doctors describe exercise as a natural “medication” that can treat ADHD symptoms effectively. While exercise will most likely not replace traditional treatment options, it can be used as a strong compliment. In fact, exercise often affects the same core component as the stimulants do: one’s executive functions. Memory, inhibition, attention, and prioritization are all examples of executive functions.
