The benefits of exercising in water for people with mental health disorders
Physical activity has numerous benefits, both physical and mental . Several scientific studies suggest that it promotes the improvement of general physical condition, in aspects such as mobility or balance, and that it contributes to reducing the risk of suffering from cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases. At the same time, physical exercise is associated with a set of benefits for mental health , such as improving mood, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, life satisfaction, quality of life and reduction of self-stigma.
But, specifically, physical activity carried out in an aquatic environment has specific characteristics. Water allows us to do physical exercise with less impact on our body, which makes it easier to access. This allows us to bring the benefits of sport closer to populations that, for health reasons, would have more limitations in practicing other activities such as running or strength training. For example, benefits have been demonstrated in the physical and mental state of people with fibromyalgia, non-specific low back pain, type 2 diabetes and pregnant women. In addition, if aquatic physical activity is carried out in a group, it also favors social relationships in a healthy environment.
Incorporating physical activity into treatments for people with mental disorders can provide promising benefits, as a complement to pharmacological and psychosocial treatments.
Physical activity can also promote recovery and quality of life for people with a mental health diagnosis. People with mental disorders, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder , tend to have higher levels of physical inactivity than the general population, and may be at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome. Therefore, incorporating physical activity into treatments for people with mental disorders is considered to have promising benefits, as a complement to pharmacological and psychosocial treatments.
Thalassa Project: two research studies and a guide with recommendations
The Thalassa Project , led by the Sant Joan de Déu Health Park with the support of Fluidra , the Fluidra Foundation and the Sant Joan de Déu Social Work , was born with the aim of bringing the practice of aerobic physical activity in water closer to users of the mental health network and studying its benefits on their mental and physical health. Within the framework of this project, a guide has been designed that includes recommendations to ensure that the activity is carried out safely, effectively and adapted to all collaborating centres. The guide addresses physical and psychosocial aspects that must be taken into account, provides details on specific characteristics of the sessions (duration, intensity and design of the exercises) and on the most suitable material. These recommendations allow the procedures to be standardised, so that the evaluation and comparison of the effects of the activity are consistent, regardless of the centre where it is carried out.
Guidelines for physical activity in swimming pools
The preliminary results of the project indicate that, after practicing aquagym for six months, users of the mental health network have observed improvements in :
- Self-esteem and subjective perception of general health status.
- The self-perception of stigma.
- Anxiety and depression levels.
- Difficulties in personal care, social relationships, obligations and tasks of daily life.
If we analyze the differences between men and women in the sample, we observe that:
- Men obtain significant improvements in social relationships and daily life activities, and show a tendency to improve in self-stigma, perception of pain or discomfort and participation in society.
- Women , for their part, obtain significant improvements in self-esteem and social relationships, and show a tendency towards a decrease in self-stigma.
Exploring the results by different diagnoses , the study concludes that:
- People with affective disorders significantly improve their self-esteem and the performance of daily living activities, and show a tendency to improve personal care and decrease self-stigma.
- People with psychotic disorders significantly improve their social relationships, and show a tendency to improve in activities of daily living, participation in society and subjective perception of health status.
Physical activity with people with severe mental health disorders
In short, the Thalassa Project reflects that the regular practice of gymnastics in water has a positive impact on various aspects of the mental and physical health of people with mental disorders. These results are only the starting point of a research that seeks to deepen and expand the knowledge of the benefits of physical activity in water on mental health.
Documents i enllaços
