Dra. Zaira Santana
Zaira Santana, a psycho-pedagogue and teacher at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, presented during the III International Act of the Royal European Academy of Doctors-Barcelona 1914 (RAED), held between 15 and 22 July in different capitals of the Baltic, a model of treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) based on physical activity. Santana presented the paper “Nueva metodología para el tratamiento del TDAH mediante el ejercicio físico” (New methodology for the treatment of ADHD through physical exercise).
The rapporteur said that the best way to administer serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline that these children need is not through medication, but through physical activity, which is the main source of generation of these hormones. “It may seem like a paradox, but it has been shown that physical exercise releases the hormones that these children lack in order to improve their concentration and attention levels”, Santana said.
To do this, the professional has designed a program of physical activity, called KineCross, which allows halving conventional medical treatment, so that children can enjoy a healthier life and less linked to drugs. “Their results are promising, although we are working on an extension of this work, we propose on the one hand, further research with a series of improvements of the methodology applied to a larger sample or introducing other control parameters, and on the other hand, the preparation of a manual for professionals that allows the implementation of the program with guarantees of success”, Santana said.
