Nature's Ritalin for the Marathon Mind: Nurturing Your ADHD Child With Exercise

Rating:
Summary: The Exercise Approach to ADHD
Review: As a nurse working with children and adolescents in Residential Treatment I am aware of the many problems families, teachers, counselors, and medical professionals face related to ADHD and the myriad of other psychiatric diagnoses placed on our youngsters.

In "Nature's Ritalin for the Marathon Mind" Steve Putnam has gotten the word out on the body-mind connection and the effect of exercise on the brains neurochemical system. More importantly, this is done in an easy to read manner making it possible for those in need to understand and to be able to develop a plan that is workable for them.

There is no one treatment for these children. A combination of medication, therapy, and a consistent daily routine is needed. Often exercise is completely neglected but can, as is pointed out in Putnam's credible book, address a number of psychiatric diagnoses while building self esteem, developing consistency in daily routines, and enhancing the general health of our youth. All of these issues need to be seriously addressed in our culture. The rationale to use the "marathon mind" in this positive, healthy way is completely plausable and could greatly decrease or make more manageable these problems for many children and their families. In some cases it may even eliminate the need for medication or placement outside the family home.

I hope the general public and the professionals working with our youth heed this important message. The book is an essential read for anyone living or working with children with these issues.

Rating:
Summary: A mind-body, common sense approach to ADHD
Review: Finally an author has written a book that explores the multitude of aspects of ADHD in layman's terms. As an educator, I have found "Nature's Ritalin for the Marathon Mind" to be an invaluable resource. With the advent of Satellite TV, Nintendo 64, and now motorized scooters, the exercise of children, or the lack therof, has become a hot and controversial topic. In his book, Putnam explores this mind-body connection between exercise and ADHD. Putnam dives straight into the debate of ADHD and medication. From research and information from experts and physicians in the field, Putnam proposes that the inexpensive commons sense treatment of exercise, in conjuction with or in place of medications, can greatly enhance the lives and produtivity of children with ADHD. From the information presented in this book, I have a better understanding of the neurochemical elements of ADHD and the mind-body connection. This has not only helped me to become more patient and understanding of the ADHD children in my classrom, but has also provided me with a viable and inexpensive way to help them. The extensive research in this book affords me the chance to clearly explain ADHD and the benefit of exercise to other teachers, children, parents, and families. With his approach, Putnam offers a new approach to viewing ADHD that removes the social stigma- a force so strong that many parents and children refuse help. Thankfully, Putnam does not layout a strict step by step program for helping children with ADHD. Rather, he outlines issues and suggests possibilities leaving the specifics to be determined case by case. This book is an invaluable and indispensible reference for educators, physicians, parents, and anyone who has ADHD or knows someone with ADHD.

Rating:
Summary: A mind-body, common sense approach to ADHD
Review: Finally an author has written a book that explores the multitude of aspects of ADHD in layman's terms. As an educator, I have found "Nature's Ritalin for the Marathon Mind" to be an invaluable resource. With the advent of Satellite TV, Nintendo 64, and now motorized scooters, the exercise of children, or the lack therof, has become a hot and controversial topic. In his book, Putnam explores this mind-body connection between exercise and ADHD. Putnam dives straight into the debate of ADHD and medication. From research and information from experts and physicians in the field, Putnam proposes that the inexpensive commons sense treatment of exercise, in conjuction with or in place of medications, can greatly enhance the lives and produtivity of children with ADHD. From the information presented in this book, I have a better understanding of the neurochemical elements of ADHD and the mind-body connection. This has not only helped me to become more patient and understanding of the ADHD children in my classrom, but has also provided me with a viable and inexpensive way to help them. The extensive research in this book affords me the chance to clearly explain ADHD and the benefit of exercise to other teachers, children, parents, and families. With his approach, Putnam offers a new approach to viewing ADHD that removes the social stigma- a force so strong that many parents and children refuse help. Thankfully, Putnam does not layout a strict step by step program for helping children with ADHD. Rather, he outlines issues and suggests possibilities leaving the specifics to be determined case by case. This book is an invaluable and indispensible reference for educators, physicians, parents, and anyone who has ADHD or knows someone with ADHD.

Rating:
Summary: A Common-sense Approach to ADHD
Review: Stephen Putnam has written a book that will undoubtedly help many parents of ADHD children who are seeking remedies that can enhance therapies already in place. He provides ample evidence of the therapeutic benefits of aerobic exercise for children while at the same time acknowledging the efficacy of medication for some children.

Putnam's positive labeling of ADHD as "marathon mind" removes the stigma for families who are faced with the ADHD diagnosis. As someone who suffered from Major Depressive Disorder for more than a decade as an adult, I am well aware of how exercise enhances mental health. While ADHD and anxiety/depressive disorders do not necessarily accompany one another, there is common neurobiological ground. I've seen enough cases within my own family-the most dramatic being a brother who would have been diagnosed as having ADHD some 40 years ago-to know that Putnam is on to something. This brother's adult mental illness was delayed, in my opinion, by his athletics participation. He turned from athletics to abusing drugs with predictable results. Surely an exercise program is a godsend for the juvenile with the marathon mind, regardless of whether there is any predisposition to other mental health problems.

This book will likewise be beneficial for educators, all of whom are challenged with ADHD children in their classrooms. Putnam offers some sound and workable advice and interesting anecdotal evidence for consideration. Like me, the author was his own laboratory. This is not the blind leading the blind, as is so often the case. He now passes on his success formula to others. I believe this book belongs on every primary care physician's shelf, as well.

Rating:
Summary: Healthful, fun, and exciting ways to share activities
Review: Stephen Putnam's Nature's Ritalin For The Marathon Mind: Nurturing Your ADHD Child With Exercise is a solid, "reader friendly" guide specifically written for the parents of ADHD children. Putnam offers exercise as an alternative therapy to medication for the control of ADHD symptoms. Healthful, fun, and exciting ways to share activities with one's child are discussed as well as the special benefits that a good fitness program has on the ADHD mind. Highly recommended reading for parents concerned with the problems inherent in behavior control medications for children; the solid precepts clearly laid out within the pages of Nature's Ritalin For The Marathon Mind are meant to be discussed at length with one's family doctor.

Rating:
Summary: A convincing argument and a workable program
Review: The first thing Putnam does in this calm, well-balanced and very accessible book is make the very reasonable suggestion that instead of labeling a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) we might better say that the child has a "Marathon Mind." Putnam goes on to make the strong argument that instead of treating the hyperactive child with Ritalin and other psychostimulants it might be better and more natural to try a program of aerobic exercise.

This makes so much sense that it is hard to believe that it isn't more often prescribed. Putnam hints at the reason: (1) It's not easy for a busy parent to supervise the exercise program, and hiring a personal exercise coach is expensive. (2) "[I]nsurance will more likely cover medication" than therapy or a coach. (p. 13) It should also be noted that Big Pharma is not motivated to conduct research into the effects of exercise on ADHD-labeled children since a positive finding would not favorably affect their bottom line.

Personally, I am highly suspicious of these new "disorders" like ADHD that HMO-driven doctors treat with drugs. There are legitimate cases, no doubt; but most of the time I suspect there is nothing wrong except that this is a child that needs a lot of physical activity and a lot of body/mind stimulation. That is that child's strength. He (most of those diagnosed with ADHD are boys) can be active and effective at a high energy level and take in a lot more from the environment than other kids can. He needs to be up and doing. Putnam sees "movement" as satisfying "the wanderer, hunter, farmer, and gatherer in all of us." This is the message from evolutionary medicine. We evolved in an environment that had us up and doing all day long. The child that craves activity and stimulation is perhaps the truly natural child; and it is the modern environment with its restrictive classrooms and exercise-stealing tools and vehicles that is unnatural. Perhaps the environment ought to be labeled as having PADD (Physical Activity Deficit Disorder).

Consider the program of the typical "soccer mom." Despite all her good intentions, her child really doesn't get enough exercise. First there's the ride to the soccer field, then there's sitting on the bench during perhaps most of the game, then the ride to Chuckie Cheese's afterwards, and then the ride home. Perhaps a couple of hours or more have passed and how much of that time was the child actually exercising? Maybe twenty minutes, maybe ten.

How about at school? How long does recess last? Putnam cites studies that show even a little exercise tends to allow the child to focus better. He even suggests that the very lack of movement forced on the child in the typical classroom situation is contributing to the symptoms of ADHD. He uses the term "proprioceptive feedback" to refer to a mind/body phenomenon that allows us "to adjust our arousal level as well as our sense of tranquility." (p. 22) By the way, I would like to see the amount of time devoted to physical education in our schools doubled. Not only would this help the child that feels trapped in the classroom, but would work against the growing problem of childhood obesity.

Putnam discusses what he calls "optimal stimulation" and analyzes the role of dopamine in an exercise program, and "the runner's high." He considers the wide range of needs that children may have and offers suggestions on how parents may help their child find the right exercise program. He considers motivation and the family dynamics that either foster or hinder the child's opportunity to exercise.

Putnam clearly believes that the use of drugs to treat a hyperactive child should be the treatment of last choice, and I couldn't agree more. Who knows what the long-term effects might be? Read this book and see how you as a parent might be able to make a healthy choice for your child.

Rating:
Summary: Marathon Mind - an apt analogy for any creative thinker
Review: This book provides a common sense, lay-language approach not only to its intended audience - adults dealing with ADHD children - but also a general populous.

It's the simple and obvious that is so often forgotten or dismissed. Putnam effectively outlines how exercise impacts behavior, mental acuity, attitude and pleasure. While the book is intended to address the issues associated with ADHD, it is applicable to any parent, child, teacher or adult seeking possible avenues for relief and release. His casual writing style, anecdotal fodder and how-to approach makes this book an easy read and useful resource for anyone who deals with kids (or is a kid at heart).

Given the increasingly sedate nature of our culture, this book is an inexpensive and valuable resource for anyone trying to balance attitudes, actions and performance.

Of course, parents dealing with ADHD children have tremendous challenges. I've witnessed the trauma an ADHD family faces, particularly when medication is not effective and/or accepted. This book provides some wonderful possibilities for these frustrated, exhausted parents, to redirect and focus their child's intellect through exercise. Putnam doesn't claim (and carefully cautions readers to seek expert input) to offer a panacea, but does provide some interesting, documented and easily implemented ideas for encouraging and monitoring regular physical activity in the ADHD child with the goal of minimizing symptoms and encouraging excellence.