Yoga and ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral condition found in 5% of school-age children that is characterized by lack of attention, problems with impulse control, and difficulty in adherence to rules. Common behaviors include hyperactivity, difficulty following instructions, restlessness, impatience and low self-esteem. Although children with ADHD have normal intelligence, school performance is often poor.

Although the exact cause of ADHD is still unknown, several factors increase the risk including lead exposure and mother�s use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs during pregnancy. These factors are believed to influence brain development; specifically to alter the function in the part of the brain that controls impulse control and attention. It is also thought that deficiencies in certain vitamins may be a contributing factor as well.

A common treatment for ADHD includes stimulant drugs like Ritalin or amphetamines. Stimulant drugs work by increasing blood flow and boosting levels of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. However, up to one-third of children are not responsive to this treatment and the side effects are significant and include weight loss, insomnia and nervous tics. Not only that, psychiatric problems, sudden cardiac death and possible interference with normal brain development have been linked to long-term Ritalin use.

In children who cannot tolerate medications or when medication is ineffective, behavioral therapy has been suggested as a treatment alternative. Although behavioral therapy has shown some benefit in adult ADHD, most research has shown little or no effect in children.

Clearly, alternative treatments for ADHD are needed that are effective yet safe.

Yoga is a great alternative to medication. Yoga incorporates deep breathing exercises that enhance relaxation and improve self-control. These benefits spill over into the daily lives of children with ADHD and help them to improve self-esteem, do better in school and get along with others. Yoga also emphasizes maintenance of poses and relaxation. During yoga classes, teachers offer detailed and frequent instructions about muscle and joint awareness. Overall, yoga students will ultimately develop greater attention and ability to concentrate; qualities that are deficient in children with ADHD. Yoga also reduces depression, anxiety, anger and neurotic symptoms. This results in overall improvements in mental health and better behavior in social settings.

The beneficial effects of yoga are largely the result of the deep breathing patterns practiced in yoga. The rate and depth of breathing have distinct effects on heart rate and the autonomic nervous system. By practicing yoga on a regular basis, children with ADHD learn to control their responses in stressful social settings.

Numerous research studies support the use of regular yoga for kids with ADHD (Rojas 2005, Weber 2007). One study showed that yoga improves attention and behavior in school-age boys that were already stabilized on medication, compared to boys on medication only (Jensen 2004). Furthermore, the boys who practiced yoga more frequently had even better outcomes. Another study randomly selected children with ADHD to practice either yoga or traditional exercise (Haffner 2006). The children who performed yoga improved attention and had fewer ADHD symptoms versus the exercise group.

Overall, yoga can have similar effectiveness to medication and better effectiveness than behavioral therapy for the treatment of children with ADHD. Furthermore, there are no side effects whatsoever except for improved behavior, better school performance and higher self-esteem.

Coupled with the calming effects of yoga, it goes without saying that children should be offered a healthy diet abundant in fruits and vegetables offering beneficial plant based nutrients called phytonutrients. Sugary and junk foods should be kept to a minimum. On occasion, supplementation with vitamins may be in order. However the use of synthetic vitamins is contraindicated and natural alternatives such as additive free aloe vera juice should be explored.

All in all, yoga, proper foods with supplementation, monitoring by the family physician with plenty of hugs and positive reinforcement, should help to greatly improve the outcome of a child experiencing the symptoms of ADHD.

Contributed by:
Dr. Linda Kennedy MS SLP ND

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