THE EFFECT OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE ON MENTAL DISORDERS: BENEFITS AND NEUROBIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS

Abstract

Contemporary bibliographical studies highlight the role of physical exercise in the holistic treatment/
therapy of mental disorders and have shown that long-term physical exercise causes multiple benefits for
the individuals with mental disorders while at the same time it improves mental functions and their general
functional adaptability through certain neurobiological mechanisms.
The aim of this bibliographical review is to study the current international bibliography related to the
effect of physical exercise on patients with mental disorders and to clarify the benefits that arise from
their participation in exercise programs, as well as the neurobiological mechanisms through which these
benefits are achieved.
Clinical research data and scientific reviews indicate that long-term physical exercise causes physical,
psychological and social benefits to individuals with mental disorders. The physical benefits include better resistance against diseases, body weight and obesity control, less fatigue and more stamina, muscle
flexibility, protection from and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, as well as from high blood pressure,
osteoporosis and diabetes type 2. Furthermore, research shows that frequent physical exercise increases
life expectancy. The psychological benefits include mental well-being, pleasure, better self-concentration,
self-confidence, better mental efficacy, reduction of anxiety and depression and eventually, better quality of life. The social benefits include good relationships and positive attitude towards others, socialization through team work and collaboration and deterrence of anti-social behaviour. All these benefits are
achieved through neurobiological mechanisms. The dominant neurobiological mechanisms are six and are
referred in bibliography as ”hypotheses“. They include the function of the following substances, micro-organisms or organic proceedings in the human body: endorphin, neurotransmitters, thermogenesis, hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, mitochondrial function and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR).
These mechanisms improve the upgrading of synaptic function, neurogenesis and angiogenesis.
Bibliography underlines the fact that the success or the failure of an exercise program for individuals with
mental disorders depend on various factors such as the type, the intensity, the frequency and the duration
of exercise, the patient’s age and physical fitness, the long-term engagement, and whether the training
is individual or in a team. What is recommended is the formation of a homogeneous team consisting of
individuals with mental disorders with sufficient number of participants who will follow long-term training
programs with moderate to high intensity (60-85% VO2max), sufficient duration (at least six months) and
frequency (4-5 times/week) for the development of all the beneficial adaptations. These programs should
be created, supervised and guided by qualified special physical education instructors with experience in the
clinical characteristics of these patients.