Can You Improve Mental Performance by Exercising?
By Tom Herrin
Everyone looks for some way that makes whatever they are attempting to do easier. Who can blame them? Why knock yourself out if it is not necessary? For those who may be seeking some way of improving brain function, physical exercise may be an answer. Even if people are not trying to improve their function, they may be concerned about preserving what they have. It is a valid thing to consider. For those who already enjoy being physically active, the good news is that there are several good connections between exercise and the brain.
Exercise May Relieve Anxiety
Anxiety is a common problem for many people, and it originates in the brain. While there are all kinds of causes, it can truly become crippling. People who suffer from more than their share of it can have many serious health issues. It can interfere with normal brain function and cause confusion, among other things. Regular exercise can help to relieve some of this. A well planned program may be the best, and simplest, way to deal with this.
Exercise Can Help Train the Brain
The idea of training, or re-training, the brain is not new, but it may be unfamiliar to many people. Some of the movements of the body can actually affect the brain and its function. For years, many schools have used different kinds of movements to accomplish various tasks in respect to the way the brain works. Exercise can make a difference in the way the neurons develop and work. People unconsciously do this as work to learn new skills. They are generally unaware of exactly what takes place as they do so. The other side of this is that it is thought that in people who are more sedentary, neurons are younger and tend to more easily respond to stress.
Make It Work for You
Whatever you seek to accomplish with your efforts, it is best to make it all work however you please. If you are into physical exercise, you may be able to tailor your activity in such a way to address your particular concerns. If that is some type of mental function, there may be some exercise that can isolate that. I try to keep myself in decent physical shape, but I know that many of us tend to lose ground as we age. So far, I have had some pretty good success with linking my physical activity with my mental operations.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Newnan, Ga.