WATCH: How sports can have a positive impact on children’s mental health
Dr. Tyler Rickers of Rogers Behavorial Health discusses the benefits on childrens’ wellbeing
Updated: 6:01 PM CDT Jul 30, 2024
ON THE OLYMPICS IN PARIS, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE BENEFITS OF SPORTS AND WHAT THEY CAN HAVE ON CHILDREN AT A YOUNG AGE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. ONE OF THE BENEFITS YOU MENTIONED IS FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN CHILDREN. WALK US THROUGH THE CORRELATION BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SPORTS, AND MENTAL HEALTH. >> MENTAL HEALTH SEEMS TO HAVE — SPORTS HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH IN MANY WAYS, AS WE EXERCISE, WE ARE DOING GREAT THINGS FOR BLOOD FLOW. NOT JUST FOR THE MUSCLES BUT ALSO OUR BRAIN. THERE’S CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE HEMISPHERES OF THE BRAIN WHICH IS GOOD FOR MENTAL HEALTH, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES ALLOW US TO SLEEP BETTER SO WE GET BETTER REST. PEOPLE WITH ANXIETY SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. SPORTS CAN PROVIDE THAT. THERE’S ALSO THE CAMARADERIE AND TEAMWORK TO HELP OUR MENTAL HEALTH, BEING AROUND OTHER PEOPLE, BEING OUTSIDE, GETTING SUNSHINE. ALL THESE THINGS ARE GOOD FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH. DERRICK: IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE TOO MUCH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR CHILDREN? >> YES, IF YOU OVERDO IT YOU WILL RUN INTO THINGS LIKE DEHYDRATION, ELECTROLYTE ABNORMALITIES, POSSIBLY MALNUTRITION, AND OTHER POTENTIAL MEDICAL EFFECTS THAT COULD AFFECT MENTAL HEALTH. TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING IS GENERALLY BAD IN THE MENTAL HEALTH WORLD. YOU WANT TO WATCH OUT FOR EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF ANYTHING. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN LIKE OUR ELITE ATHLETES ACTUALLY HAVE SLIGHTLY HIGHER RATES OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. SO IT WILL NOT CURE EVERYTHING BUT IT CERTAINLY CAN HELP. BUT TOO MUCH IS NEVER GOOD. DERRICK: ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT. WHAT ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE BODY AND MIND? >> GET OUT, DO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, GET PLENTY OF SUNSHINE, MAKE SURE YOU ARE HYDRATING, TAKING CARE OF YOUR NUTRITIONAL NEEDS. IT’S IMPORTANT TO EXPERIENCE OTHER PEOPLE, TALK TO OTHER
WATCH: How sports can have a positive impact on children’s mental health
Dr. Tyler Rickers of Rogers Behavorial Health discusses the benefits on childrens’ wellbeing
Updated: 6:01 PM CDT Jul 30, 2024
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