Can physical activity like running help social awkwardness

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I have heard it said that crawling as a baby is important for making neurological connections. . .many times a baby that skips crawling will end up having difficulties such as dislexia. There are other things like this. (It is really interesting).

With crawling it has something to do with using the right and left sides of the body (brain) together rather than seperately.

I used to be a very very painfully shy/quiet individual. I ended up doing long distance running in high school and then in college. By the middle of college I had people telling me that I was even a bit outgoing. A lady who studies these things told me that she thinks that all my running may have helped me socially. It is hard to explain but she does have a website if any of this kind of stuff interests anyone: www.braintransformations.com

My mom had told me I couldn't crawl or walk for a long time. Speaking came naturally to me but then I made my own language and didn't use english for a year. I only used english when needed.

and I did get a itty bit more outgoing once I started walking everyday.

Well they say that good cardiovascular health increase blood flow to the brain which increases its functioning.

Speaking from personal experience, physical exercise does have a number of short term benefits, such as making you feel better. I'm not sure if it can help social awkwardness but if Glencannon's right, then it might well do.

I looked at the symptoms listed on that website. I have, like, many. Almost all. (Since there are a hell lot of AD(H)D symptoms listed there...)

But I was odd before the whole crawling-phase. So I doubt skipping that made any impact on me.

I do sports. Running (for fun) and dancing (serious) mostly.

I'm a good dancer.

I have observed dancing is one of the best ways to make shy people, clumsy people or awkward people physically less clumsy/awkward.

For some it has an effect on their social interaction. But because they suddenly carry their bodies different. They become more aware how to express themselves by body language and how to control their body by dancing.

No effect concerning that social/body language stuff on me. I wasn't shy/clumsy/awkward either though.

I'm the only autistic dancer I know. So, it may have an effect on other autistic people?

Well. It sure can have an effect on all other people if an autistic person with low-muscle tone and clumsiness suddenly has a better posture. They then probably think the autistic person is less shy and more open/friendly/dominant. That can make a huge difference.

Roger Bannister, in his autobiography, The Four Minute Mile, actually mentioned that he took up running in order to attain a sense of belonging. Before he began running as a teenager, he was very quiet and shy.

I am not a runner, but I experienced a similar sense of belonging when I joined an Internet Siamese cat site. It was amazing how much I had in common with these people from around the world I didn't even know-and not just a love of cats!