Overcoming ADHD with exercise:

A new organisation, Let’s Move Australia is claiming to re-shape the future of Aussie kids with ADHD via drug free programs that are based on focused physical movement and exercise.

In studies published in the Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, kids with ADHD who exercised performed better on tests of attention, and had less impulsivity, even if they weren't taking stimulant medicines.

Researchers think exercise works on children's brains in several ways including increasing blood flood flow, improving blood vessels and brain structure as well as increasing parts of the brain related to behaviour and attention.

Let’s Move Australia Founder and father of a child with ADHD, Angus MacAlister says the programme has been five years in the making.

“We developed a series of  programs  based  on the facts we now know about the brain; that it is super malleable and responsive to physical exercise.”    

 “At the core of our programs are exercises that place a demand on the underdeveloped part of the brain.  Over time, these exercises promote neuropasticity, and result in permanent changes in the brains behaviour.     

“In other words, in exactly the same way as an Olympic athlete would train to build core muscle strength to improve their physical performance, learning difficulties, such as, ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and high functioning autism issues, such as, Asberger syndrome can now be addressed through a completely natural, targeted, physical exercise approach. Offering these children a much brighter  future.”  MacAlister  continued.     

Around 10 to 16% of Australian students are believed to have learning difficulties, as identified by their classroom teachers. 

MacAlister says LMA’s aim is not only to help parents (and entire families) take a hands-­on approach to bettering their child’s learning issues but also to empower them with a plan to permanently remediate the issue to allow the   child to really achieve their potential.     

MacAlister adds,  “I see day-to-day how often parents miss the early signs of ADHD or learning disabilities within their children.  Myself included, as we missed it (ADHD) in our son. Early signs that the ‘processing’ part of brain development may have not yet matured can show in the strangest of ways.  In a child’s balance, their posture, their language skills, their ability to listen and their ability to react in a socially acceptable way. These are just some of   the early signs.”  

“We want to support parents who wish to roll up their sleeves and do something about making it better.”  

 The programs create a dedicated time for the children and a parent or helper to spend together.   Each Let’s Move program is tailored specifically to the child once they have completed the Lets Move analysis consisting of conversations with experienced Program Practitioners or therapists and an in depth Lifestyle questionnaire.  

Families receive all of the physical equipment and their personalised digital kit to support  them through their twelve month program of six week cycles, with a 24 hour helpline providing permanent connected support throughout their program.