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Using Physical Activity to Treat ADHD in Children

Diagnoses of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children are on the rise in the United States, and it has become a major health concern. The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that the percentage of children diagnosed with ADHD went from 7.8% in 2003, to 9.5% in 2007, and all the way up to 11% in 2011. Along with the surge in diagnoses, another troubling trend has been the significant increase in prescriptions for children to treat ADHD. The CDC says 6.1% of children in the United States were taking medication for ADHD in 2011, up from 4.8% in 2007.

While there is evidence that alternate methods of treating ADHD in children such as exercise may be effective, it is generally overlooked. That being said, a recent study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders, found that just 26 minutes of daily physical activity over a period of eight weeks significantly reduced ADHD symptoms in grade-school kids.

Most people that have taken an interest in SitFlow so far have done so because they are tired of sitting at work all day. However, our mission at SitFlow is not limited to people with desk jobs, and it is certainly not limited to adults. We believe that SitFlow may be a great addition to the classroom, particularly for students with ADHD. Students that may otherwise be fidgeting and unable to sit still, can instead use a SitFlow to expend their energy throughout the day. Our next test, suggested by the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Kinesiology, will be studying the effects of SitFlow on children.

Earlier this year, we donated 30 SitFlows to Pershing East Magnet School in Chicago, and the students were very receptive. Below is a video highlighting the reaction at the school after trying out the SitFlows in the classroom.

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