Possible role of repetitive practice of activities requiring reflexive responses in the treatment of Tourette's disorder.

Abstract

We report 2 boys, 11 and 7 years old, whose Tourette's disorder improved significantly after a period of repeated, sustained practice of activities requiring reflexive responses One boy engaged in physical exercise including hand-eye co-ordination (table tennis for 6 hours every weekday) and the other learned foreign languages (5 languages within 3 years). Tics may be thought of as a kind of overflow of energy, and excessive energy consumption with physical or mental exercise may improve the motor disorder and associated comorbidities. However, the exercise may require a quick, reflexive response to visual or verbal stimuli.