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Activities for Autistic Children
Please can you offer some activity-based suggestions and PE/games options for autistic children that they can do at home or at school. Looking at two age groups here 7 – 10 and 11-16.

Parents, teachers, and other caregivers often get so caught up in educating and providing structure to the lives of autistic children that they forget that, above all, he or she is a child. Like any other child in his or her age group, your autistic child wants to have fun. While some activities may not be suitable for those suffering from autism, there are a number of fun games to play with autistic children, many of which can get them involved with others or help them further develop motor or social skills while just focusing on having a good time.

Autistic children in the elementary school age range can benefit greatly from song. Even children who do not verbally communicate with words can learn to hum along or play simple instruments, such as tambourines or whistles. Using sounds that are repetitive and with educational lyricshelps autistic children learn school lessons but also gives them an outlet for some of the sensory stimulation they need, such as yelling. Play follow the leader with the instruments to help the children focus their attention and improve socialization skills.

Depending on how mature your child is, he or she may also not only be able to participate in regular childhood games, but greatly benefit from them as well. These activities, including tag and other games, can be learned more easily than you think. Stick with games in which the autistic child is not forced to have close physical contact with other children, as this may be hurtful for autistic individuals. Also, remember to play to your child’s strengths or what he or she wishes to learn. If he or she has a problem with yelling inappropriately, for example, encouraging him or her to be involved with a game of hide and seek may help curb this behavior.

Autistic children often wish to be included in games with non-autistic peers, and so this may help with the learning process. At home, focus on games that involve closer contact with trusted family members. For example, make it a game to get across the room without touching the floor. Perhaps the only route in some instances is to be carried. Remember that each child is different developmentally, so stay in tune with how challenging the activities should be.

As your child matures, he or she may want to be involved with organized sports. This should be encouraged, but choose your sport carefully. Golf, baseball, and other sports that do not involve strong personal sensory stimulation may be better for your child than something like tackle football. However, be open to all possibilities. Be sure the team’s coach understands your child’s disability and is willing to work with him or her.

At this later developmental stage, also continue encouraging learning activities. Sensory games work well to further teach these children, and as they mature emphasize the importance of appropriate behavior as you are playing these games. Using things like water balloons in games your child already enjoys is often as fun for children with autism. Also realize that an autistic individual has trouble seeing things from another’s point of view. Therefore, they may be less likely to enjoy games in which something must be kept a secret from another person (like go-fish).

Overall, you and your child need to grow together. Remember that although he or she has many special needs, sometimes your child needs to simply be a kid as well. Encourage play along with work, and realize that games and activities for autistic children may fulfil two key elements, socialization skills for life and learning to enjoy playing with their peers.

There are many more resources and information about diagnosing, controlling and treating Autism in, The Essential Guide To Autism

Is animal use necessary?
Yes, if we are to continue seeking to understand and cure disease in both people and other animals. Certainly, animal use would not be necessary if we were content to allow our medical knowledge and skill to stay where it is today. But for many reasons we can’t afford that: Many devastating diseases — such as rheumatoid arthritis, AIzheimer’s, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, schizophrenia, and many forms of cancer–still lack cures or effective treatments. New diseases keep appearing.

Are antidepressants addictive?
The short answer is “no”. Some antidepressant medications have been associated with mild physical symptoms if they are suddenly stopped. These symptoms can be minimized or eliminated by decreasing the dose over a week or two. However, there is no craving, one of the classical symptoms of addiction. Neither laboratory animals nor humans will preferentially take these medications, for example.The heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, stomach, and intestines are the organs that may be donated.

How do research and education benefit from eye donations?
In addition to corneas used for surgical procedures, more than 38,000 eyes are used annually for research and education. Research on glaucoma, retinal disease, eye complications of diabetes and other sight disorders, benefits from donations because many eye problems cannot be simulated. These studies advance the discovery of the causes and effects of specific eye conditions which leads to new treatments and cures.Yes, if we are to continue seeking to understand and cure disease in both people and other animals. Certainly, animal use would not be necessary if we were content to allow our medical knowledge and skill to stay where it is today. But for many reasons we can’t afford that: Many devastating diseases — such as rheumatoid arthritis, AIzheimer’s, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, schizophrenia, and many forms of cancer–still lack cures or effective treatments.

What did the latest research show?
Using embryonic cells, scientists established five cell lines that were capable of prolonged, undifferentiated proliferation in culture and yet maintained the ability to develop into a variety of specific cell types, including neural, gut, muscle, bone and cartilage cells. Scientists hope that stem cell research will lead to cures for such diseases as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and perhaps even spinal cord regeneration, to name a few.Research on glaucoma, retinal disease, eye complications of diabetes and other sight disorders helps to advance the discovery of the cause and effects of these conditions. This then leads to new treatments and cures.

What can be donated?
The heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, stomach, and intestines are the organs that may be donated.The tissue that may be donated includes the corneas, tendons, saphenous and femoral veins, fascia, heart valves, skin and bone. If the organs and tissue cannot be donated for transplant, you still could have the chance to help others through education and research to find cures for arthritis, diabetes, skin disorders, cancer, and many other illnesses.In addition to corneas used for surgical procedures, more than 35,000 eyes are used annually for research and education. Research into glaucoma, retinal disease, complications of diabetes and other sight disorders benefit from donations because many eye problems cannot be simulated-only human eyes can be used.

How could ES cells be used to cure a disease or injury?
Most diseases and injuries involve defective or damaged cells and tissues. ES cells, or more specialized cells made from ES cells, could be transplanted into a patient’s body, where they could regenerate or repair a patient’s damaged cells or tissues.No. Animal experimentation has made only a very modest contribution to human health. The vast majority of improvements in public health have resulted not from vivisection, but from improved living conditions and changes in personal lifestyle, such as the trend towards people exercising more and eating healthier.

Quite often, significant hair loss can alert an individual to the possibility of the development of diabetes. If you are losing hair in larger than normal quantities, and the loss does not appear to be common pattern hair loss, evaluation by a medical professional is warranted. The reason is this: diabetes is a disease that is hormonal related, and this imbalance can often be seen first in loss of hair. The links between hair loss and diabetes are as follows:

1. Diabetes causes poor blood circulation. Poor blood circulation can affect the ability of hair follicles to operate normally. Under normal conditions, hair grows for 2-6 years; then it goes into a period of dormancy, and eventually it dies and falls out as a new strand is produced in the follicle to push it out. When blood circulation is poor, the follicle is not producing a new strand as normal, the old strand dies and falls out, and there is no replacement hair. Further, strands tend to die and fall out more quickly when blood circulation to the head area is poor. Therefore, more hair falls out and is not replaced, creating much thinner hair.

2. Skin infections and/or fungal infections are easier to contract and harder to treat in diabetics. Some of these infections, if left untreated, lead to hair loss.

3. Medications that are typically prescribed for diabetes can impact hair growth. As your body adjusts to new medications or new medication levels this process will often diminish or disappear completely. If you are just starting on a new course of medication, keep this in mind.

4. Physiological and psychological stress usually accompany diabetes. These are direct factors in hair loss. When combined with the other effects of diabetes stress can be an even greater cause of hair loss.

If you have hair loss related to diabetes, here are some helpful suggestions:

1. It might take a few months, but wait to see what happens once your body has stabilized on the medications that have been prescribed to you. Be very conscientious it taking your medication on time and in the right dose. Often your hair loss problem will correct itself.

2. Make sure you get enough water. Staying hydrated is important for a diabetic for many reasons, and it can help you retain hair. Six to eight glasses of water consumed over the course of a day is a good rule of thumb to make sure that you’re getting enough fluids.

3. Get plenty of exercise. This will help increase circulation, and increased circulation will assure that the scalp is properly receiving the nutrients required for proper hair follicle health. Healthy hair follicles will produce more hair.

4. Try Yoga or some other form of relaxation to relieve stress and anxiety.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes then you realize what a life-changing event that it is. Follow your physician’s instructions for proper care and control of the disease, and strive to lead a healthy life-style. Your hair’s health is dependent upon your body’s overall health. If you take good care of yourself you can limit the disease’s impact on your hair.

Try to make the routines fun, not an ordeal. Never force youngsters to train against their will. They can do all free standing exercises, flexibility exercises, plus the learning of sport skills and the related sportsmanship and team work required in such sports. Weight training exercises should as we said in part 1 be light to medium and avoidance made of the potentially dangerous exercises such as dead lifts, heavy cheat bent over rowing, cheat barbell curls and the spine busting bending heavy low squats.

The wearing of a lifting belt is a good habit to encourage. Recommended exercises include good style full range movements such as light barbell squats to parallel, presses behind neck, but pad the bar and do not bounce the barbell on the spinal column at the back of the neck. Also try medium grip barbell bench presses, don’t bounce the bar on the chest or over arch the back. Don’t attempt limit lifts. When anyone is bench pressing there should always be a spotter around to prevent accidents. It has been known for death to occur when a bar has dropped upon the lifters neck. Never practice heavy bench presses alone.

Most dumbbell exercises are fine, again double check the collars are secure .Standing lateral raises for shoulders and lying triceps stretches for the arms. When doing sit ups for abs, use the crunches version, keep the knees bent and encourage high repetitions for fitness. Train in good clean clothes and footwear. Encourage good hygiene practices at all times to avoid infections such as athletes foot or similar unpleasant complaints.

TRAINING THE OVER 14’s A far safer and preferable age to commence training with weights is over 14 years of age. Almost any exercises can be used again with the possible exception of over heavy dead lifts or barbell rowing, which can place the lower back into an unstable position, and heavy squats, again which may cause low back pain, knee problems and problems later in life with the hips.

Schedules can be come longer and will soon show more evidence of muscular development. The normal precautions should be observed i.e. warming up to guard against injuries and above all, pay attention to what you are doing. It is best to exercise in good style using full range movements. I would also advise participating at this time in sports such as gymnastics or martial arts. We have to stress if you take on training youngsters, then you also take on full responsibilities for their health and safety.

THE UNDER 14s ROUTINE Begin by warming up with running on the spot, twists, knee bends and arm swings and then start with the 1st exercise. Ex 1: Press behind neck with barbell. 8 to 10 times, twice. Ex 2: Half squats to bench top with barbell. 1 set of 12 reps for the legs and lungs. Always use Squat stands and Teenagers must always train with a spotter. Ex 3: Pullovers with centrally loaded dumbbell 1 x 12 using a light weight, which helps chest expansion and always use after squats while still out of breath.

Ex 4: Barbell bench presses 1 x 10 reps, have a spotter standing by, don’t bounce the weights off the chest and use good style and full range. Ex 5: Barbell curls for the biceps, the way to big arms, 1 x 10 reps, don’t cheat or swing the weight up. Ex 6: Crunches for the abdominals, start off with one set of maximum reps, try to work up to at least 30 reps, then its ok to add more sets, great to obtain that all important six pack. Finally Ex 7: Calf raises, 2 x 12 reps, Hold a dumbbell in one hand and with toes on a block raise and lower the calf via full range.

TRAINING ROUTINE FOR THE OVER 14s Don’t forget to warm up Ex 1: INTERCHANGE dumbbells overhead presses 3 x 8 for the shoulders and arms. Ex 2: Full squats, this time ensure you go right down full range, but don’t bounce at the knees. Make sure a spotter is close by and use squat racks. Ex 3: Pullovers, use swing bell or centrally loaded dumbbell, the weight isnt so important, light to medium is enough, the main objective being to develop chest expansion Ex 4: Wide grip bench presses 3 x 10 for pectorals, triceps and shoulders. Ex 5: Dumbbell flyes, lying, after the bench presses, further pump the pecs with dumbbell flyes.3 x 12

Ex 6: One arm dumbbell rowing 3 x 8 for lats and arms and shoulders, use fairly heavy weights as this is quite a safe exercise. Ex 7: Lying triceps stretches 3 x 8 for the back and main bulk muscles of the upper arms Ex 8: Crunches 2 sets of maximum reps EX 9: Alternate dumbbell curls for biceps 2 x 10 and finally pumps the lower legs. Ex 10: Calf raises, use machine or dumbbell or barbell across the neck for added resistance, calves on a block to obtain max stretch, always a must in calf training.

Forcing high poundage is not recommended, just work on slow but sure progress. Encourage a healthy diet which includes proteins, vegetables and fresh fruit. At this age enough rest and relaxation is vital for their well being and the should be kept mentally alert while not training. A range of pursuits and hobbies is ideal will help to keep them mentally aware on focused on training.

As we well know, Bodybuilders are just mere mortals and will die at some time just like the rest of us, but this Bodybuilder was only 30 years old. He wasn’t of the most famous in the world, not even in the world of bodybuilding. He was though an American heavyweight and had won several state titles and he was a top ten player at National level.

He was a muscular guy, about 6ft tall and competed at 265 lbs. He always looked like becoming a top bodybuilder with a great future ahead. When he wasn’t training, he would work as a model and he also did some “escort” work, which wasn’t too popular with everyone although he was well known for his friendly and helpful manner. Then one day it was all over while he was still at his prime and the same question still arises…Why did an apparently fit and healthy man die so young?

It is many years now since I went to my first bodybuilding contest and in the intervening years, the standards of physiques on display have got higher and higher. We all know that a Mr. Universe from 1970 would struggle to win a good novice contest nowadays. There is always great anticipation going to contests from year to year expecting to see ever freakier bodybuilders. Even though the standard of development achieved by top level competitors is already extremely high, we can expect ever more awesome displays of muscle in the future. Or can we?

Nobody (except a possible fool) will predict the limits to human endeavor, as they would with no doubt be proven wrong in time. As recently as in 1953 when Mt Everest was climbed for the first time Man achieved the unachievable. Prior to that many had died in their attempt to reach the summit and it was suggested that the height of 29,000 ft [8,838 m] was just basically out of our reach. Well since 1953 the summit has been reached on numerous occasions although others haven’t made it and just because once the mental block has gone you know it can be done.

It’s exactly the same with bodybuilding. In not the too distant past you would have been considered as being a super human if you were 6ft tall with a 50 inch chest, but nowadays you wouldn’t even consider competing unless you had these measurements. The current pro standard stands at around 60 inches plus and those who are training at the moment to reach a competitive level will be looking at surpassing today’s Pros. It’s tough and the majority will fail as they consider the time, the costs and the health risks involved.

Today more than ever we can see the vast difference between a top Pro bodybuilder and the average man in the street. Bodybuilding standards are at an all time high due to improved training, better nutrition, an improved understanding of physiology, pre-contest diet improvements, an improved life-style and finally drugs. These are all extremely important factors although I would like to focus more on the drugs aspect.