How Exercise Transforms the Brain-Body Connection in Kids with Apraxia
If your child has autism or whole-body apraxia, you may have seen how hard it is for them to control their movements. They might want to grab a toy, stand up, or walk over to you—but their body doesn’t always do what they want it to.
It’s not that they aren’t trying. The connection between their brain and their muscles is just not working smoothly.
Fortunately, there’s a solution: movement.
Believe it or not, regular, intentional exercise can help your child’s brain and body work better together. Over time, movement can lead to more coordination, better mood, stronger immune health, and greater independence.
Here’s why physical activity is one of the most powerful tools for supporting your child with apraxia.
1. Strengthening Neural Pathways Through Movement
Whole-body apraxia is a motor planning condition. It means your child’s brain has trouble organizing and starting movements. Their brain knows what it wants to do, but the muscles don’t get the right message.
This is where neuroplasticity comes in.
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt and grow. Each time your child moves—especially during purposeful activities like climbing or jumping—their brain is creating new connections. The more they repeat the movement, the stronger those brain pathways become.
Over time, this helps with:
- More stable coordination
- Clearer, more controlled movement
- Better confidence in physical abilities
Sometimes kids avoid movement not because they don’t want to do it, but because starting is the hardest part. That’s when strategies like motor coaching can help. It gives children the support they need to initiate and follow through with movement.
2. Why Muscles Matter for Body Awareness
Muscles aren’t just for lifting—they help your child feel where their body is in space. This sense is called proprioception.
Children with apraxia often have weak proprioceptive input. That’s why they might bump into things, seem uncoordinated, or appear nervous when moving.
You can improve proprioception by helping your child build muscle. Exercises that include:
- Climbing
- Crawling or rolling
- Carrying or pulling weighted items
- Using resistance bands
…all give strong feedback to the brain. This improves body awareness and balance, and also helps with self-regulation—which means staying calm and focused.
3. The Brain Loves to Move: Boosting BDNF Naturally
Exercise does more than strengthen muscles—it changes brain chemistry. Exercise and motor planning are important for kids with autism.
When your child’s muscles contract, they release special chemicals called myokines. Two of the most powerful ones are cathepsin B and irisin. These travel to the brain and trigger the release of BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor).
BDNF is like brain food. It helps:
- Build new neurons
- Strengthen brain circuits
- Improve memory and focus
- Lower anxiety and boost mood
Higher BDNF levels are linked to improved learning, behavior, and mental clarity. And what increases BDNF most?
👉 Cardio and strength-based exercise.
So when your child moves their body, they’re also giving their brain a major boost.
4. Better Sleep and Mood Through Physical Activity
Kids with apraxia and autism often struggle with sleep, focus, and mood swings. But moving their body can help balance their brain chemistry.
Exercise increases:
- Melatonin, which helps with falling asleep and staying asleep
- Serotonin and dopamine, which improve focus and emotions
- Endorphins, which reduce stress and help your child feel calm
One study in 2020 showed that just 20 minutes of physical activity each day helped children with autism feel more emotionally balanced and better able to handle challenges.
And you don’t need fancy equipment. Just try:
- Dancing in the living room
- Nature walks
- Water play or swimming
- An at-home obstacle course
The goal is movement that’s fun, consistent, and engaging.
5. Mitochondria and the Power of Movement
Let’s talk about mitochondria—they’re the parts inside cells that make energy. When mitochondria don’t work well (a problem called mitochondrial dysfunction), your child may feel tired, have digestive problems, or get sick often. Exercise and motor planning are important for kids with autism.
In many children with autism or apraxia, mitochondrial function is lower than it should be. This can lead to:
- Low energy or fatigue
- GI discomfort
- Regression in skills
- Poor immune health
- High anxiety or seizures
Exercise helps mitochondria by:
- Increasing their number
- Helping them work more efficiently
- Reducing stress and inflammation in the body
When your child moves regularly, they are literally building energy—for both their brain and body.
6. The Gut-Brain Link: How Exercise Supports Digestion and Focus
The gut and brain are closely connected. If something is off in the gut, it can affect thinking, behavior, and movement.
The gut is full of bacteria. When good bacteria are low, your child might experience:
- Brain fog
- Mood swings
- Trouble sleeping
- Poor coordination
Exercise helps increase the healthy bacteria in your child’s gut. A recent study from 2023 showed that kids who exercised daily had more diverse gut bacteria—and this was linked to better behavior and concentration.
In addition to that, exercise also:
- Supports healthy digestion
- Helps balance hormones
- Encourages a healthy weight
- Boosts immunity
So while movement may seem like a simple thing, it’s helping support your child from the inside out.
7. Science Agrees: Physical Activity Matters
There’s now strong evidence that physical activity improves life for kids with autism and apraxia. It’s not just about fitness—it’s about supporting brain function, emotional stability, and daily success.
Regular movement helps:
- Build motor planning and coordination
- Improve emotional control
- Deepen sleep and speed recovery
- Improve metabolism and immune system
- Encourage confidence and skill independence
This is especially important for kids with apraxia, who are working hard every day to coordinate their brain and body. At Spellers Center Atlanta, we focus on physical activity, movement and motor planning as part of our routines.
Closing Thoughts: Make Movement a Daily Habit
Still wondering if exercise is really important for your child?
✅ It absolutely is.
Even small bursts of daily movement—just 10 or 15 minutes—can create meaningful changes in the brain and body. Every time your child crawls, jumps, stretches, or pushes something heavy, they are rewiring their nervous system.
Here’s how to start:
- Set up simple daily routines
- Let your child choose the activity
- Use music or toys to make it fun
- Celebrate their effort, not just the result
Consistency is the key. Each little rep adds up to big growth over time.
You’re not just helping your child move better.
You’re helping them build a healthier, more connected brain—and a future with more confidence and joy.
Be sure to check out the Spellers Documentary to see how Spellers Method has impacted so many people’s lives.
