From Exercise to Empowerment: Innovation in Pediatric OT
Dr. Amy Wheadon, an OTR from Massachusetts, created the EXERSHINEkids Framework and POWER Bootcamp Program, an innovative and evidence-based approach that uses high-intensity exercise to support self-regulation, social participation, and confidence in neurodivergent children and youth.
Amy Wheadon, OT, OTD, OTR, CPT, YES
Owner & Pediatric Occupational Therapist, KidSHINE, LLC
Founder, Owner, & Creator, EXERSHINEkids POWER Bootcamp
Owner, EXERSHINEkids Training, Certification and Membership Program
Location: Massachusetts
Certified in 2000
From Personal Insight to Professional Innovation
Dr. Wheadon discovered early in her career that exercise could be more than fitness; it could be a tool for focus, regulation, and connection. She translated that insight into practice, blending high-intensity movement with occupational therapy and sensory integration. The result is the EXERSHINEkids Framework and POWER Bootcamp Program, an exercise program that merges child-friendly activities, purposeful movement, and group dynamics to help neurodivergent children and youth regulate emotions, build strength, and participate more fully in daily life.
The EXERSHINEkids Framework utilizes movement to improve children’s functional performance and participation in daily occupations. Dr. Wheadon has designed workouts to leverage the neurochemical benefits of high-intensity exercise to support sensory modulation and build core strength, balance, coordination, and motor planning, all of which are essential for both daily living and recreational activities. The program has been shown to be effective in both group and one-on-one settings, making it versatile and accessible for a wide range of participants. With minimal equipment and playful themes, exercises like burpees, planks, and mountain climbers become adventures where kids work together, solve problems, and discover their own strengths. Ultimately the goal is to empower children to use exercise as a tool for self-regulation, helping them build confidence in their abilities to complete daily routines, participate in academic tasks, and interact socially.
Case Examples
The following case examples are taken from an article Dr. Wheadon published in the magazine OT Practice (Wheadon, 2024).
Families have seen the difference in their children after they participated in the EXERSHINEkids POWER Bootcamp Program. Connor was an 8-year-old with sensory processing challenges who struggled with morning routines, focusing in school, and engagement in structured activities. After two consecutive 8-week sessions in the program, Connor’s mother reported that Connor was getting dressed independently, and his teachers saw marked improvements in focus and classroom engagement.
Lucas is an autistic adolescent who has participated in the program since its inception in 2016. Early on, Lucas faced challenges with motor coordination, social interaction, and structured sports participation. After 7 years of consistent involvement in EXERSHINEkids, Lucas is now a thriving high school student. He takes honors classes, runs cross country, and plays the clarinet in the band. His mother shared, “The skills he has learned and has taken with him from this program have given him the best chance for success. You have given Lucas a safe space, a place where he always felt like he belonged, where he felt seen and where he could be himself.”
Scalable and Evidence-Based
The EXERSHINEkids program is grounded in research. In 2019, Dr. Wheadon conducted a clinical trial of the EXERSHINEkids POWER Bootcamp Program, which demonstrated significant improvements in sensory processing, daily living skills, and social participation. These findings align with broader research highlighting the positive impact of structured movement on cognitive and emotional development, particularly for children with sensory processing challenges.
Just as importantly, the program is accessible, combining therapeutic intent with fun programming that can be implemented in clinics, schools, and community settings.
Dr. Wheadon has expanded the program’s reach through a clinician training and certification program. She teaches practitioners how to integrate the EXERSHINEkids Framework in their own practice, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to deliver the program with fidelity and impact. By creating an innovative yet practical framework, Dr. Wheadon is giving practitioners everywhere new tools to integrate movement into therapy, and giving children everywhere new ways to thrive.
Advancing the Profession
Through her work, Dr. Wheadon is not only transforming therapy for children but also advancing the OT profession. She has published in OT Practice, presented at national conferences, and co-authored a children’s book series to empower kids with sensory differences.
Dr. Wheadon’s work embodies the spirit of the NBCOT Innovation Award—creative, evidence-based, and deeply client-centered. By blending the science of occupational therapy with the power of exercise, she has created a model that helps children flourish in therapy, at school, and in everyday life.
Reference
Wheadon, A. (2024, April). ExerSHINE Kids POWER Bootcamp Program: Improved occupational performance in neurodiverse pediatric clients. OT Practice, 29(4), 25–27.