A healthy child is one who is physically active.
Children who participate in physical activity have stronger muscles and bones, avoid gaining too much weight, and have a lower risk of developing diabetes, cancer, and other diseases.
However, a child’s mental health can equally benefit from physical activity.
Physical activity, according to experts, improves children’s attitude on life by boosting self-esteem, reducing anxiety and sadness, and improving cognitive abilities.
Len Saunders, a physical health instructor and the author of “Keeping Kids Fit” and “Buddy and Bea,” stated that exercise “also releases endorphins, which correlates to a happy child.”
Following the publication of two studies on Monday in the journal Pediatrics, the advantages of physical activity for kids are receiving increased attention this week.
Both studies examined the advantages of exercise for kids’ mental health.
Why therefore do cybercycles instead of regular cycles?
Since children with behavioral health disorders (BHD) rarely engage in aerobic exercise, cybercycling was important since it was enjoyable for the kids.
There is no reason to think that any aerobic exercise—regular cycling, jogging, etc.—would not have these effects from a physiologic standpoint. But it can be very difficult to engage kids if they don’t like it, April Bowling, an assistant professor at Merrimack College, told Healthline.
Since many of these kids struggle with sensory issues, social anxiety, and delayed motor skill development, it can be challenging to engage them in standard sports and exercise regimens.
“They found the video games and virtual reality courses fascinating, and the cybercycling appealed to them because they could participate in it successfully at their existing ability level. You may easily forget how hard you are working when you are hunting dragons and earning points, said Bowling.
Exercise has been shown to improve children’s mood and behavior and reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases, but the study noted that there is limited research on educational settings that cater to children with complex BHD.
Researchers looked into whether an aerobic cybercycling physical education program might successfully engage and enhance behavioral control and academic performance in kids and teenagers with complex BHD using a randomized controlled crossover approach.
In 30- to 40-minute physical education lessons, bikes were randomly assigned to students with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, or mood disorders.
The approach was successful, according to researchers, since kids gradually increased their riding duration and intensity over the course of seven weeks.
According to the study, “children in the intervention group, ages 7 to 16, often demonstrated up to 51% fewer disruptive behaviors than during the control period, with the effect being particularly substantial on the days they participated in the cybercycling session.”
Saunders was particularly intrigued in the cybercycling study since it provides a powerful incentive to exercise thanks to the visual stimulation. “The cybercycling study was fantastic, in my opinion. According to Saunders, the study’s participants’ special visual stimulation inspired them to exercise. It was entertaining for them, and it served as a good incentive at school. This kind of exercise seems to be directly related to an improvement in behavioral health.
Modifying the brain
Researchers think there are a variety of ways aerobic exercise influences mood and behavior in both children and adults.
According to Bowling, “first, it tends to affect where the brain focuses its resources, away from sections of the brain that are more involved in coordination and focus and toward areas of the brain that are involved in worrying, for example.” “Second, cardiovascular exercise can alter brain chemistry, particularly the concentrations of several neurotransmitters that may aid in enhancing a person’s capacity for self-regulation. Children can do better in the classroom when mood and self-regulation, or the capacity to manage behavior, are enhanced.
Bowling thinks that using cybercycling in more contexts holds great promise. Currently being tested in public special education classes, she continued, but getting these pricey bikes into institutions that cannot afford them is a challenge.
Kids need access to multiple sorts of exercise, and since cost is a concern for many schools, Bowling believes that an important area of research will focus on testing more engaging forms of aerobic exercise that may be equally helpful but less expensive.
Bowling stressed that the study adds to the growing body of research showing that exercise benefits children with behavioral health difficulties not only physically but also psychologically.
If we want our kids to function to their full potential, Bowling believes it is imperative that we cease eliminating movement from the school day and diverting time away from physical education and recess for more academic goals.
Battling anxiety and sadness
The other study concentrated on sedentary habits, physical activity, and signs of severe depression in middle childhood.
According to Tonje Zahl, M.S.C., principal author of the study and professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, “Physical activity, and particularly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA], has a good influence on preventing future depression symptoms in middle childhood.”
Additionally, increasing physical activity could be used in conjunction with other treatments for pediatric depression.
According to this study, increasing children’s moderate and vigorous physical exercise may help avoid later depressive symptoms, stated Zahl in a statement. Physical activity offers a variety of positive health effects. Therefore, more physical exercise may be used as a supplement to psychological or pharmaceutical therapy. In terms of prevention, the gains at the population level could be significant because nearly all children can be targeted in initiatives to raise MVPA.
Physical activity can lessen the symptoms of depression, say physical educators.
According to Saunders, exercise helps develop mentally healthy youngsters by releasing feel-good brain chemicals that may lessen depression.
Exercise can be used as therapy, according to clinical psychologist Dr. Christina Hibbert, author of “8 Keys to Mental Health Through Exercise.” She overcame despair and anxiety with exercise.
According to Hibbert, “I personally have used cardio exercise to assist me overcome difficulties with depression, while strength training/flexibility activities have helped me overcome anxiety.” “I started to recognize that it was essential in making me feel emotionally and mentally stronger and healthier,” the author said. “Being in the light, getting outside, and moving my body had a tremendous impact on my mood.”
Additional mental health issues
Hibbert, a psychologist, teaches her patients how to use physical movement to not only heal various ailments such as loss, heartache, and bad moods but also to avoid mental and physical illness.
Hibbert continued, “I’m such a believer in the power of the mind-body-spirit link.
Physical exercise is one of the finest things we can do to lessen the symptoms of the majority of mental health illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to Hibbert. She continued, “Regular exercise can be one of the most effective additions to treatment, even though adherence to an exercise program may be more difficult for persons with mental health disorders if they can learn the mental skills to stay motivated and stick with it.
The two findings, according to Hibbert, are consistent with earlier studies demonstrating the positive effects of exercise on the brain, behavior, and mental health. “Our minds are moved by our physical movements. That could entail shifting extra mental energy that would otherwise cause behavioral problems and disruption, or it could entail removing us from a depressive mood.
Exercise helps us release tense, worried energy that could interfere with daily living as well as the healthy, tranquil energy we require for good conduct, the expert said. “Being active and exercising our bodies daily can continue the wonderful benefits for our mental health into our teen and adult years,” added Hibbert.
Hibbert and Saunders concur that it’s never too late to start exercising and that the earlier we begin, the better off we’ll be in the long run. Additionally, they exhort parents to participate in their kids’ physical activities.
“Adults who work with children have a significant impact on the development of young children. Being that “healthy role model” will support their continued emotional and physical wellness, according to Saunders.
“Starting an activity habit of our own and including our children is one of the finest strategies to encourage our children be more active,” continued Hibbert. Whatever you can do to get your kids — and yourself — moving and making it enjoyable will be perfect. Play, ride bikes, jump on the trampoline with your kids. This demonstrates to kids that relocation is enjoyable, helps them feel good, and improves family ties.
