FAST YOUTH ATHLETE

At Naperville Central High School, west of Chicago, children who are having problems with math or reading go to gym class first. And exercise isn't just restricted to the gym -- there are bikes and balls in the classrooms, and the children are in constant motion. The results are amazing -- reading scores have doubled, and math scores are up by a factor of 20. Research shows that after 30 minutes on the treadmill, students solve problems up to 10 percent more effectively. Keeping kids active at school is a superb way to increase learning, focus and even test results. As many of you reading this have likely experienced, if your mind is feeling cluttered or you’re having a mid-afternoon slump, a brisk walk or a quick workout can give you a renewed sense of clarity and focus. This is true for kids, too, and the results of implementing a physical activity program at Naperville Central High School are nothing short of astounding. Students who took part in a dynamic gym class at the begin...

The purpose of the warm-up is to lubricate the joints, increase the responsiveness of the central nervous system, prepare the body for the specific movements, and increase the body’s core temperature. The lubrication of the joints makes moving the joints easier. The bending of the knee is critical when sprinting, but will never be accomplished with stiff joints. The joints are better lubricated when the body is warm and able to produce fluid that easily flows to keep the joints moving. When a door has not been lubricated properly, it doesn’t function properly, doesn’t open and shut easily, and makes an irritating noise that confirms its problem. The brain sends messages to the muscles to tell them to move. The central nervous system must be awake to clearly signal to the muscles, and quickly and efficiently recruit as much muscle fiber as needed to perform a specific movement. If the brain does not send the signal efficiently, the body can’t perform that movement with the required spee...