There are many reasons why physical activity is good for your body. Improving heart health and strengthening joints and muscles are just a few, but physical activity is also beneficial for your mental health and wellbeing.
The Impact of Physical Activity on Wellbeing
Even a short burst of 10 minutes of brisk walking can increase our mental alertness, energy and positive mood (1, 2, 3). Low-intensity aerobic exercise for 30-35 minutes, 3-5 days for 10-12 weeks was best at increasing positive moods – enthusiasm, alertness. (4)
Stress
We experience emotions more intensely when we feel threatened or unbalanced with certain events. These events cause our body to create a stress response, which may make us feel a variety of uncomfortable symptoms and behave differently.
Physical signs associated with stress include sleeping problems, sweating and loss of appetite. These symptoms are triggered by a rush of stress hormones – ‘fight or flight’ response. These hormones, adrenaline and noradrenaline, which raise our blood pressure, increase our heart rate and increase the rate at which we perspire, preparing our body for an emergency response. In addition, they can reduce blood flow to our skin and can reduce our stomach activity, while cortisol, another stress hormone, releases fat and sugar into the system to boost our energy (5).
Physical activity can be beneficial in relieving stress. Research has shown that individuals who are highly active tend to have lower stress rates compared to individuals who are less active (6).
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is how we feel about ourselves and how we perceive our self-worth. It is a key indicator of our mental wellbeing and our ability to cope with life stressors (7). Exercise or physical activity has shown to increase our self-esteem and self-worth (8).
Dementia and cognitive decline in older people
Physical activity has been identified as a protective factor in studies that examined risk factors for dementia. For people who have already developed the disease, physical activity can help to delay further decline in functioning (9). Studies show that there is approximately a 20% to 30% lower risk of depression and demetia for adults participating in daily physical activity (10). Physical activity also seems to reduce the likelihood of experiencing cognitive decline in people who do not have dementia (11).
Depression and Anxiety
Al alternative treatment for depression can be physical activity. Exercise can be used as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with medication and/or psychological therapy (12). Physical activity does not have the stigma that some people perceive to be attached to taking antidepressants or attending psychotherapy and counselling.
Individuals partaking in physical activity can reduce levels if they have mild symptoms (13) and may also be beneficial for treating clinical anxiety (14). Physical activity is available to all and has few costs attached, and is an empowering approach that can support self-management.
References:
(1) Ekkekakis, Hall, Van Landuyt, Petruzello (2000). Walking in (affective) circles: Can short walks enhance affect? Journal of Behavioural Medicine, 23(3),p 245-275.
(2) Pendo and Dahn (2005). Exercise and well-being: a review of mental and physical health benefits associated with physical activity. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 18(2), p189-193.
(3) Kanning and Schlicht (2010). Be active and Become Happy: An Ecological Momentary Assessment of Physical Activity and Mood. Journal of Sports & Exercise Psychology, 32(2), p253-261.
(4) Reed and Buck (2009). The effect of regular aerobic exercise on positive-activated affect: A meta-analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10(6), p581-594.
(5) Gray (1988). The psychology of Fear and Stress (2nd ed). Cambridge University Press: New York.
(6) Kouvonen, Kivimaki, Elovainio, Virtanen, Linna, Vehtera (2005). Job strain and leisure-time physical activity in female and male public sector employees. Preventive Medicine, 41(2), p532-539.
(7) Baumeister, Campbell, Krueger, Vohs (2003). Does high self-esteem cause better performance, interpersonal success, happiness, or healthier lifestyles? Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 4(1), p1-44.
(8) Lindwall and Asci (2014). Physical Activty and Self-Esteem. In: A. Clow and S Edmunds (eds). Physical activity and mental health. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
(9) Martinez (2014). Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. In: A. Clow and S Edmunds (eds). Physical activity and mental health. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
(10) Department of Health PA, Health Improvement and Protection (2011). Start Active, Stave Active: A report on physical activity from the four home countries’ Chief Medical Officers. London: Department of Health. Available at http://www.sportengland.org/media/388152/dh_128210.pdf
(11) Sofi, Valecchi, Bacci, Abbate, Gensini, Casini, et al. (2011). Physical activity and risj of cognitive decline: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. Journal of Internal Medicine, 269(1), p107-117.
(12) Department of Health (2001). “Exercise Referral Systems: A National Quality Assurance Framework” Available at http://bit.ly/1N31ONs
(13) Conn (2010). Anxiety outcomes after physical activity interventions: meta-analysis findings. Nursing Research, 59(3), p224-231.
(14) Asmundson, Fetzner, DeBoer, Powers, Otto, Smits (2013). Let’s get physical: a contemporary review of the anxiolytic effects of exercise for anxiety and its disorders. Depression and Anxiety, 30(4), p362-373.