Introduction!

If you have ever seen a mental health therapist, I am sure that most of you have heard that exercise decreases anxiety, depression and other mental health symptoms. Researchers determined years ago that exercise has antidepressant properties and improves brain functioning (Leonard Holmes). It’s medically proven that exercise not only shape and tone your body, but it triggers production of endorphins. Researchers have also found that some studies showed that exercise boosts activity in the brain’s frontal lobes and hippocampus (Leonard Holmes). Studies have indicated that exercise increases the levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.

Aerobic exercises, including jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing, have been proved to reduce anxiety and depression (Sharma, Madaan & Petty, 2006). Improvements in a person’s mood are proposed to be caused by exercise. Exercise increases blood circulation to the brain and by an influence on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and, thus, on the physiologic reactivity to stress (Sharma, Madaan & Petty, 2006). Other positive effects of exercise are distraction from problems, self-efficacy and social interaction.

“Exercise is especially important in patients with schizophrenia since these patients are already vulnerable to obesity and also because of the additional risk of weight gain associated with antipsychotic treatment, especially with the atypical antipsychotics. Patients suffering from schizophrenia who participated in a 3-month physical conditioning program showed improvements in weight control and reported increased fitness levels, exercise tolerance, reduced blood pressure levels, increased perceived energy levels, and increased upper body and hand grip strength levels.5 Thirty minutes of exercise of moderate intensity, such as brisk walking for 3 days a week, is sufficient for these health benefits. Moreover, these 30 minutes need not to be continuous; three 10-minute walks are believed to be as equally useful as one 30-minute walk (Sharma, Madaan & Petty, 2006).” 

Sharma, A. M.D, Madaan, V., M.D., Petty, F., D., M.D. (2006), Exercise for mental health, Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry, 8(2), 106.

Holmes, L. (2010). How does exercise improve mental health, downloaded from About. Com Health and Conditions: http://mentalhealth.about.com/od/depression/a/howexercise.htm.