With high school study workloads on the rise and the pressure to achieve at an all-time high, someone needs to give these kids a helping hand. Turns out our little friend Exercise has once again come to the rescue!
All the research points to exercise as the perfect potion to improve academic results and school performance. Whilst this is true of children of all ages, it is especially pertinent when the stakes are high and important exams are on the horizon.
Recent studies have shown that just two hours of extra physical activity each week can improve school performance, although daily exercise is the ultimate prescription.
Scientist and neurologist Thomas Linden at the Sahlgrenska Academy who conducted a school exercise based study says; “Two hours of extra physical education each week doubled the odds that a pupil achieves the national learning goals. We did not see a corresponding improvement in the control schools, where the pupils did not receive extra physical activity – rather the contrary, a deterioration.”
Exercise Physiologist, Liz Dawson remarks “The results of this study are not surprising given the way a teenager’s brain is developing with hormone irregularities on top of social and emotional pressures.
“Exercise provides an endorphin release that helps regulate hormones, improve mood and concentration”.
And whilst it may seem contradictory to ask your time poor teenager to find more time in their day for physical activity, the results will be worth it. Instead of contributing to teenager related fatigue, exercise will actually provide more energy and improve concentration span.
Exercise also provides other important benefits like maintaining a healthy weight and promoting a more positive outlook. Team sports, in particular can help develop camaraderie and improved social skills, leading to a boost in confidence and a chance to have a bit of fun.
In saying that, team sports or sport in general is not for everyone but this should not mean you are excluded from exercise.
“Because exercise stems from sport it naturally carries a competitive and performance based connotation and therefore excludes non-competitive children from participating.
“I have recently had the pleasure of breaking down this barrier, working with a prominent Brisbane girls school developing non-competitive exercise programs that focus on body movement and physical benefits rather than the performance results” says Ms Dawson.
For more information on the Athlete Development program offered at Northside Allied Health visit this page.