It is now well known as thephysical activity is able to produce an increase in the concentration of endorphins, chemicals present in the human brain that work like natural calmingwhich produce sensations of pleasure.
In fact, several research has highlighted that regular physical activity has the effect of reducing high tension levels, raising and stabilizing mood e Reduce stressfacilitate sleep, and to increase self -esteem.
According to K. Vicker-Douglas, psychologist and researcher of the Mayo Clinic of Minnesota, exercise can perform its beneficial effects on the psychological state in various ways: improving the feeling of effectiveness and self -confidence; offering positive distractions; increasing self -esteem; helping us to experiment with new ways to combat our negative moods.
Exercise therefore, associated with pharmacological support and/or psychotherapycan represent an excellent means of accelerating the reduction of symptoms in people with anxiety or depression.
Significant in this regard an article published in July 2014 in Journal of affective disorders. The authors of the aforementioned article speculate that long -term training and mood changes can have a beneficial effect in the prevention of the onset of depressive symptoms.
In particular, the authors investigated the relationship between training Tai who In the long term and depressive symptoms among subjects who practice this discipline. Tai who has been a martial art, practiced in China for several centuries. It combines diaphragmatic and relaxation breathing techniques, with positions that harmoniously flow into each other through slow and balanced movements.
The (transversal) study involved 529 subjects Adults who practiced Tai Chi. The information regarding the quality and quantity of training and the level reached was evaluated using a structured questionnaire.
The depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale For aged subjects> = at 65 and the Self rating depressive stairs For subjects under the age of 65 (Cut-off GDS> = 5; SDS> = 11).
The results clearly demonstrate how the protracted practice of Tai Chi It is negatively correlated with depressive symptoms (i.e. how those who practice this activity regularly tends to be less depressed) and how this activity can have a beneficial effect in the prevention of depressive repercussions.
Obviously, the election treatments for the various depressive forms remain behavioral cognitive psychotherapy and antidepressant pharmacotherapy, but more and more studies support the idea that regular physical activity can be an excellent adjuvant in reducing symptoms and prevent recurrence.
