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Psychological Benefits of Exercise

Since ancient times, many have believed in the "cerebral satisfaction" of exercise. The Greeks maintained that exercise made their minds more lucid. Aristotle started his "Peripatetic School" in 335 B.C. The school was so named because of Aristotle's habit of walking up and down (peripaton) the paths of the Lyceum in Athens while thinking or lecturing to his students who walked with him. Plato and Socrates also practiced the art of peripatetics, as the Roman Ordo Vagorum or walking scholars did later.

A high proportion (57 percent) of modern-day men and women report in national surveys that they experience stress, especially those with higher education and income. Surveys also indicate that people today strongly believe in exercise's value for the mind. Those with a deep commitment to exercise generally report feeling more relaxed, less tired, more disciplined, a sense of looking better, greater self-confidence, greater productivity in work, and in general, more at one with themselves. A survey in Canada revealed that physically active people experience less depression and higher levels of positive well-being than inactive individuals. When active people are asked why they exercise, the most common response is "to feel better mentally and physically." Evaluation of national surveys in the United States and Canada have shown that physical activity is positively associated with good mental health-especially positive mood, general well-being, and less anxiety and depression.

Clinical studies have generally supported these survey reports. Researchers at Duke University showed that after 10 weeks of walking and jogging 135 minutes a week, exercising adults showed decreased anxiety, depression, and fatigue, as well as elevated vigor. Regular exercise by policemen and firemen has been associated with decreased anxiety and depression. Running has been found to be at least as effective as psychotherapy in alleviating moderate depression. Regular exercise has been associated with decreased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and general fatigue in community adults, as well as improvement in self-concept.

How does exercise make one feel better mentally? Some experts feel that psychological improvements last for several hours following each exercise session. As exercise becomes a regular habit, these enhanced feelings are experienced throughout the entire day.

Explaining how and why this happens is at present still unresolved. Some of the theories involve the effects of exercise on various hormones and other body chemicals.

Some researchers feel the mental benefits of exercise may also be related to the social support most people get from exercising together. Aerobic fitness may shorten the time it takes to recover from stress and promote a more rapid recovery from an emotional experience. Exercise may also help improve psychological health because it is a distraction or a "time-out" session from the "real world" of work and responsibility.

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