ADD/ADHD and the Benefits of Riding a Bike
“Over the last decade in America, there has been a 41% increase in ADHD diagnoses among children ages 4-17 years old.”
“So, what exactly is ADHD? It is one of the most common childhood disorders that includes difficulty staying focused and paying attention. Children also show signs of having difficulty controlling behavior and hyperactivity. You might know a child who has trouble focusing or concentrating in school, or perhaps you live with this disorder yourself. There are three distinct types of ADHD in children and teens, those are:”
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1. Predominantly Inattentive
-Difficulty keeping on task and following through
-Difficulty paying attention
-Appearing not to listen when spoken to
-Often forgetful or easily distractible
2. Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive
-Fidgets or has difficulty remaining seated
-Always “on the go”
-Talks excessively
-Blurts out answers to questions or has difficulty taking turns
How can biking help children with ADHD?
The study from Specialized Bicycles measured the effects of cycling on the attention capacity of 47 middle school students with ADHD. The study found that when the children rode their bikes five days per week before school for 30 minutes, there was an increase in positive moods, improvements in several aspects of attention, as well as acute and longer-term benefits in cognition.
The experience positively altered brain activity, increased attention spans, boosted moods, and of course, improved fitness and BMI. Even better, it only took one ride to start seeing the results.
The students’ brains showed faster information processing and positive changes in activation patterns, especially for those with attention difficulties. Even after just one bike ride, students with ADHD were less impulsive and made fewer mistakes on attention-related tasks.
“If biking is helping middle school children with ADHD this much, imagine what learning to ride a bicycle at the kindergarten level will do for so many children diagnosed with ADHD.”
(Sourced from https://outridebike.org/research)
Adding biking to a child’s life with ADHD will provide many positive benefits. Not only can biking be a way to help children with ADHD, but it is also instilling a lifetime skill at the same time. A skill that parents can enjoy with their children. Biking is a great way for families to spend time together.
“In no order, here is a list from the Specialized Foundation of the benefits biking provides to children with ADHD”
-Biking improves attention in children with ADHD
-Biking positively alters brain activity for children with ADHD
-Biking improves fitness for children with ADHD
-Biking improves the mood for children with ADHD
-Biking builds confidence for children with ADHD
For more in-depth information on the benefits of biking in children with ADHD please visit https://outridebike.org/ridingforfocus