Physical Activity Benefits Mental And Physical Health

(From Current Opinions In Psychology -- By F. J. Penedo And J.R. Dahn)

More and more scientific research is showing that exercise and physical activity yield both physical and mental-health benefits across several diseases and diverse subpopulations.

Physical activity is most generally defined as regular light or vigorous exercise, or even household chores.

While most studies have documented benefits in cardiovascular disease, recent work has begun to focus on people with other physical illnesses.

Researchers have reported benefits among those with type 2 diabetes and cancer patients who also suffer from other co-morbid conditions such as obesity of cardiovascular disease. Benefits were also observed among sedentary men and women over age 60 with knee-hip osteoarthritis who experienced reduced pain. People suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome showed benefits.

On the mental health side, those diagnosed with major depression while adhering to a regular exercise regime showed significant improvement in depression.

Physically active older adults were reported to be less likely to develop cognitive impairments. There are limits, however, to what the current research can undoubtedly claim about the benefits of physical activity. Though it seems universal that exercise can improve physical and emotional well-being, experts advocate more studies with bigger sample sizes, and letting more time pass in order to qualify and quantify just what the long-term benefits are.

Additionally, the types of exercises vary greatly for a great variety of people. Between yoga and chair exercises, some sort of consensus with regards to how to measure proper treatment or dosage for an individual with a specific ailment needs to be addressed.