Autism and Exercise

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Latest Studies in Neuroscience, Exercise Science and Nutrition

NEUROSCIENCE APPLIED TO FITNESS• The More we use our brain the better physical and mental results• The more active we are the greater connectivity between brain regions

EXERCISE SCIENCE1- Biomechanics: the more muscles we use the better for a greater health

2- Cardiovascular activity not only help us get fit but also get smarter. Creation of BDNF

NUTRITION AND INTELLIGENCE• Nutrition Vs Intelligence: High Saturated fats destroys BDNF, Omega 3 diet

enhances BDNF

Motor circuits-why are they so complicated?2 types of Signals

Efferent messagesOr motor neurons

Afferent messagesOr sensory neurons

Brain and Movement-basics

• Voluntary

• Planning an Intentional movement

• Sensory Proprioceptors

VOLUNTARY:

The Brain-Muscle Connection:The Brain-Muscle map

Source: Niednagel's theory

2. PLANNING AN INTENTIONAL MOVEMENTThe Treasure of the brain lies at its bottom: The Cerebellum

Cerebellum:

50% of all NeuronsFunctions:Balance

CoordinationMuscle Timing

PostureLearning-speech

Intentional MovementBrain-Muscle Connection

Why Balance and Coordination are so

important?Brain Studies The cerebellum, the area of the brain responsible

for voluntary physical movement is connected by neurons to all parts of the cortex, the area of the brain responsible for higher order thinking. Nearly 80 studies have suggested a strong link between the movement and memory, spatial perception, language, attention, emotion, nonverbal cues, and decision-making (Jensen, 1998).

Sensory proprioceptors are key for Movement

PROPRIOCEPTORS

Neuroplasticity vs Neurogenesis

• Movement affects both

• Exercise affects both

• Cardiovascular and complex training the best

The body

STRENGTH TRAININGBENEFITS

MUSCULARSTRENGTH

BALANCESCHEMICALS IN

THE BRAIN

REDUCES BODY FAT

PROMOTES WEIGHT LOSS

BALANCES HORMONES

NEURONAL GROWTH

CARDIOVASCULARHEALTH (BP, RHR,BPM)

BONE DENSITY JOINTS RESILIENCE

POSTURE ALIGNMENT

ImprovesImmune System

Fights Disease

(flu&others)

FLEXIBILTY MAKES USGET SMARTER

DEPRESSION&ANXIETY(MILD)

ANTI-AGING EFFECTS(movement)

“Strength training is the absolute best exercise program”

American College Sports of Medicine

Biomechanics

Human Movement: How do we move- Biomechanics

A very complicated process- Brain-Motor Plasticity

Central nervous System (CNS)

Motor Command Body Movement Sensors

Sensory Processing& Control

Plan

Multi-

sensory

Signals

VisionVestibular

Deltoid Muscle Spindle

Ankle Proprioceptor

Calf-Soleus Spindle

Cerebellum

Movement Starts:Raise arms&heels

Core Activation

Brain activity is maximum whenwe perform a balanced and coordinated

movement

MOVEMENT LEADS TO SUCCESS

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SPORTS DANGER

• Requires an active use of motor skills

• Motor skills need to be taught independently

• Sports can discriminate to those ones with fewer motor skills

• Individualized program for motor skills

My work in Schools

• Working as a consultant for schools implementing

SUPER BODY, SUPER BRAIN KIDS!

• VIDEO

PS 277:The Pre-Official report from the Bronx District

Superintendent: from last year children at PS 277 went up 26% in their writing and reading scores and

mentioned Super Body, Super Brain "as a remarkable improvement in the PE Curriculum contributing not only

to the children's physical condition but to their social interaction and a great impact in the classroom"

SCHOOL PROGRAM

Brain, Strength Training and MovementPhotos: Oprah.com

From left to right From Front to back

From your senses(proprioception)

From your heartFrom Movement

learning

EYES CLOSED HAND-EYE COORDINATION

5 ways of Training theBrain with

Strength trainingmovements

Super Body, Super Brain school sheet

Motor skills, Children and Academic Achievement

• Motor skills are fundamental to learning. Memory is retrieved better when learned through movement. (Jensen)

• Learning happens throughout the body. The body is the unconscious mind. (Pert)

• Movement is the body’s natural reward system. (Jensen)• Crossing the midline integrates the brain to organize

itself. Neural activation occurs to many parts of the brain and equally to both hemispheres, making the brain alert and energized for learning.

• Improved balance improves spatial skills needed to read letters left to right on a page.

MY EXPERIENCE TRAINING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN

• SPD

• ASPERGERS

• ADD

• ADHD

• SEVERE AUTISM

Initial Observations:• -Inability to focus more than 10 seconds in high intensity exercises• -Ability to focus from 10 to 30 seconds in less intensity exercises• -Balance and stabilization• -Coordination• -Left and Right executive decision• -Intensity• -Lack of body transitioning from exercise to exercise • -Really easily distracted• -Hand Eye Coordination• -Impulse and muscle timing • -Lack of sensory feedback• -Disassociated Proprioceptors• -Memory and feedback retrieval

• -Lack of motor planning and decision making (when facing unstable surface)• -Good motor planning when facing a stable surface

MonitoringStudent name

The Brain Muscle WorkoutClass

Leigh Strauss Belzberg

Listening SkillsBalance Skills Coordination SkillsCardiovascularFlexibilityAttitude

Concentration (1-3’)

Learning Skills

Concentration(30”-1’)

Excellent Good Needs practicex

xxx

xxx

xx

6/7/09After 5

sessions

SKILLS REPORT LEVEL 1

NeedsPractice

x

Concentration(0-30”)

Lets get to work!

Assessment StrategyExercise

Selection (200)

Progressive Super Body, Super Brain exercise routine

Special Needs• Motor skills• Sensory• Hand eye coordination• Motor Planning-rock hiking

AUTISM: MY PERSONAL JOURNEY

• How did we start• My initial assessment• READY TO GIVE UP• MOM STOPPED ME SAYING

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING MR?”

AHA MOMENT

We started with 3 exercises and sessions lasting 10

minutes

1 year after we are doing over 40 exercises in sessions lasting 45

minutes 3 times a week-

ASHLEY ROCKS!!!!

Ashley’s update

Improvement in:• Eye contact• Multi-tasking• Focus• Sensory• Motor skills• Strength• And many more to come! Ashley keeps surprising me

day by day

• 1.-Puzzle Selection

Progression in:-Eye contact

-Selecting an individual puzzle at verbal command

Exercise Number 1


-Cognitive response-Cross lateral movement

-Exercise transition

Exercise Number 2

2.- Hand Clapping• -PT clapping• Ashley clapping• Both Clapping• Opposite clapping

Progression in:-Movement execution-Cognitive response

-Relaxation response-breathing calmly

Exercise Number 3:

Neck relaxation

From a seated position hold neck backwards and breathe. 20 seconds

• From a relax position, massage gently the muscles in the face activating sensory and blood flow to facial

muscles


-Relaxation response-Duration of exercise=20 seconds

Exercise Number 4:

Sensory-Wake up muscles in the face

• Covering Ashley’s eyes Ashley walks upstairs with closed eyes

Goals: Proprioception, Multi-tasking, sensory, balance, coordination, strength

Progression in:-Walking from steady surface to increase resistance

-Cognitive response-Clumsy to smooth

-Not confident to Confident

Exercise Number 5:

WALKING WITH CLOSED EYES

• 6. BALL EXERCISES• 6.1 KNEES ON THE BALL PLUS CLAPPING AND ROTATING

• Instruct to get on the stability ball and hold her both hands. Then by holding just one hand have her initiate a rotation of her whole body to the left then return to the starting position clap 10 times. Then have her initiate a rotation to the right and clap ten more times.


-Cognitive response-Exercise execution and exercise complexity


Exercise Number 6




Exercise Number 7Ball jumping by oneself: Ashley gets on the

ball by herself instruct to do ten jumps without holding




Exercise Number 8Back stretch:Lying on the ball backwards perform

a lower back stretch and hold it for 1 minute!




Exercise Number 9

6.4 . “DON’T FALL”

From a lying down position on the ball and hands on the floor. Hold the legs bring her body slightly backwards and push her forward making sure that she is placing her hands to stop the

movement. This is one rep do it ten times




Exercise Number 10MOTOR PLANNING

Choose a point A and a point B in space. Point A and Point B will be few feet away. The initial distance should be at least 3 feet away and the gradually

increasing. In both distance points there should be a clear surface that makes this points in space unique. In the figure move from the tramp to the bosu. This is

one rep do it tem times




Exercise Number 11

BALL THROWING AND BALL RECEPTION

From a standing position and at least 10 feet away throw the ball to a partner then throw the ball back

making sure that she is planning the throw and practice the reception activating the reflex system.




Exercise Number 12

-Running-holding her both hands-Running-holding one hand then change-Running-holding both shoulders-Running by herself without any helpEach subset should be done by approx 30 seconds each. Then do it twiceTotal minutes: 3-4 minutes

9. TREADMILL:

3 series of Treadmills:1st Circuit: 4.0 Walking for one minute followed by running 4 minutes at 6.5.

From a standing position the instructor will place one leg at each side of the treadmill. Then Facing her and holding her hands do one set of the following:




Exercise Number 13

COUNT TO FIVE TO DRINK JUICECount very slowly from one to

five.




Exercise Number 14

14.- KNEE TO CHEST –MOVEMENTFrom a lying down position and both legs bent

to chest level, push both knees to the chest back and forth.




Exercise Number 15

PRETZEL STRETCH

From a lying down position bring both legs behind the head then hold with both hands

together. The count to sixty before releasing.

Progression in:UP TO TEN MINUTES!!!

Exercise Number 1617.- MEDITATION

Lying down and making sure the room is as dark as possible, lie down and rest. Her hands

will be placed at the stomach level and her legs are straight. At the beginning the

instructor could be lying down with her then moving away to make her gain independence

in the exercise.

Autism and Exercise

Health & Medicine

brain responsible

brain activity

brainmuscle mapsource

super brain kids

brain systemstrength

movement photos

coordinated movement

pert movement