When it comes to autism exercise, reaping the physical benefits is just the tip of the iceberg. Read on and find out how exercise develops the mind of those in the autistic spectrum disorder.

Disability or not, exercise has a lot of health benefits. It helps strengthen the body. It’s the key for strong bones. It promotes a healthy weight. It improves cardiovascular function.

But these things are just the tip of the iceberg.

Unknown to many, exercise also has some benefits which are less familiar to us.

Exercise positively impacts the mind and improves one’s behavior.

 

Autism Exercise: Is there a difference?

When you look it up into the Internet, you’d find 2,160,000,000 results on the “benefits of exercise” in a span of 0.66 seconds.

That’s more than enough proof that there are plenty of established facts that exercise is good for both the mind and the body.

After all, the brain is the control center of our body. Every process that happens in and outside the body happens in the brain. It’s only fitting that exercise has a direct impact not only on the physical aspect of one’s body but even one’s mental health.

Since you’re here, you might be asking if there is a difference between the benefit of exercise for autism than those who don’t suffer from it.

This is the truth. The only difference with people who suffer from autism spectrum disorder is that they usually have a limited – or a very hyperactive – mobility.

Most of the time, people with ASD have problems with balance, coordination, and other motor skills. Because of these limitations, children with autism tend to be less active. It’s the reason why even the simplest activity like catching a ball can be a real struggle for them.

 

The importance of exercise for autism spectrum disorder

Studies show that obesity is prevalent among children with autism and continues even into adulthood.

The three most common causes of obesity for people with ASD are:

1. medications that cause weight gain,
2. picky eating habits that are high in calories, and
3. lack of physical activity.

• Aerobic exercises (daily)

• Bone strengthening exercises (at least 3 times a week)

• Muscle building exercises (at least 3 times a week)

 

So how do you define moderate from vigorous activities?

Imagine how your body feels when you do some sort of physical activity.

When you walk with your friends, your heartbeat picks up – but only just a little.

You don’t have to pant or catch your breath.

It’s different when you have to run while being chased as you play tag.

Your heart beats faster than normal.

You literally feel the blood pumping through your body.

Your mind feels clearer because your body is able to circulate more oxygen into your brain.
More than that, you feel excited and giddy that you won’t get caught in the game.

Moderate physical activity is when you do something to keep active like walking. It makes your heart beat faster, but not as fast when you’re jogging or running.

Vigorous physical activities however will make your heart beat faster. Exercises of this type will cause you to catch your breath as you go about doing the activity.

In an article, vigorous physical activities for more than 20 minutes helped decreased hyperactivity, aggression, and stereotypical behaviors among kids with autism.

But as you have read earlier, the benefits of exercise for autism affect both the mind and the body.

How?

All thanks to the brain’s neurotransmitters.

 

Neurotransmitters and their impact on autism exercise

When you exercise, your brain releases neurotransmitters which then impact your mood and behavior.

These neurotransmitters are the body’s chemical messenger. They’re special molecules in the body that can transmit messages between neurons (mind action) or between muscles (body action).

These neurotransmitters are dopamine, endorphin, and norepinephrine.

 

Dopamine: the feel-good hormone.

As the feel-good neurotransmitter, dopamine contributes to our feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. When we do something that makes us feel accomplished, the brain’s reward center releases dopamine in response.

A release of dopamine is like the brain saying, “Let’s do that again because it was a whole lot of fun!”

In turn, dopamine helps improve our mood. It motivates us to do better. It also sharpens our attention to learn well and adapt to our surroundings.

 

Endorphin: the body’s natural painkiller.

 

Norepinephrine: the body’s stress responder.

Also known as noradrenaline, norepinephrine belongs to the family of adrenaline and dopamine. This neurotransmitter helps the body respond well to stress. How? By mobilizing the body for action as the brain readies itself to a fight or flight response.

1. Increases blood flow from the heart
2. Helps break down fat
3. Give the body more energy by increasing sugar levels

 

 

ASD and other learning disabilities are often characterized by an overactive cerebellum. The cerebellum, found in the back part of the brain, is necessary for motor learning. It’s also the part of the brain that coordinates the different muscle groups to help the body move. An overactive cerebellum is usually the culprit for incessant fidgeting and even hyperactivity. Regular exercise eases the effects of an overactive cerebellum and improves motor skills.

 

A new study also confirms that exercise positively impacts the brain. How? It helps develop the cerebral cortex which is the part of the brain that processes information. It also makes your brain “bigger” by increasing the volume of the hippocampus which is responsible for storing long-term memory.

 

Combined, exercise helps promote better learning, retention and attention among children and people on the spectrum.

 

It’s almost a wrap!

…but there’s more.

 

Autism exercise has more benefits that go beyond the physical aspect of the body. It also helps the mind especially in these areas:

• better processing of information

• enhanced learning, memory and retention

• reduced anxiety and panic attacks

• improved mood

…which all leads to better behavior.

Do you or your loved one need autism exercise? Try our 7-day gym pass for FREE at Special Strong and start your fitness goals with trainers who are certified for people with special needs.

 

Exercise for autism spectrum disorder

If you’re thinking of exercising with your loved one, here are a few exercise routines you can try as a start:

 

1. Bear crawls

This exercise will help you develop your body’s strength and awareness and also improve coordination.

Do this: Kneel on all fours and start extending your legs until they are slightly bent. Walk slowly using your hands and feet. To progress, walk backwards in the same manner. You can change your crawling speed and direction if you can.

 

2. Ball slams

This exercise will help improve your body’s coordination, balance and core strength. It also stimulates brain responses as you do this exercise.

Do this: Stand upright and hold a medicine ball with your both hands. Raise the ball over your head by straightening up your arms as high as you can go. Slam the ball down and bend at your knees to pick it up. Repeat this exercises for at least 20 times without stopping. If you find this tiring, lessen the frequency.

 

3. Jumping exercises

Compared to other types of exercise, jumping activities are a good start for children and people with autism. Jumping makes use of your whole body. It strengthens your core and your legs. It increases body coordination and awareness and improves cardiovascular endurance.

Do this: Start by taking a squat position with your knees bent. Make sure your feet are flat on the floor. Jump as high as you can then land back on your feet.

Do a varition of this exercise by either extending your arms and legs into a wide X. You can also do jumping jacks if you want. Do this for as much as 20 repetitions or more if you still can. However, lessen the frequency if you feel much tired from the exercise.

Want more exercises like this? Check out our post on these workout routines to diminish behavior problems with your child.