Physical Activity in Mental Health Disorders – Therapeutic Potential and Mechnisms
Introduction and Purpose: Mental health disorders are a global public health challenge, with rising emergency visits, especially among youth. Physical activity has gained recognition as an effective intervention for some mental disorders. PA positively affects mental health by enhancing neuroplasti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Quality in Sport |
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| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/60020 |
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| author | Maria Wachowska Paweł Maciej Rycąbel Mateusz Romaniuk Marek Jarosław Molenda Mateusz Paniak Wojciech Jan Sowiński Oliwia Marta Szymura Agnieszka Ewelina Wojciechowska Michał Brunon Krawczyk |
| author_facet | Maria Wachowska Paweł Maciej Rycąbel Mateusz Romaniuk Marek Jarosław Molenda Mateusz Paniak Wojciech Jan Sowiński Oliwia Marta Szymura Agnieszka Ewelina Wojciechowska Michał Brunon Krawczyk |
| author_sort | Maria Wachowska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction and Purpose: Mental health disorders are a global public health challenge, with rising emergency visits, especially among youth. Physical activity has gained recognition as an effective intervention for some mental disorders. PA positively affects mental health by enhancing neuroplasticity, neurotransmitter regulation, and reducing inflammation. Aerobic and resistance exercises, as well as yoga, are effective in alleviating depressive symptoms, anxiety, and PTSD, improving ADHD-related cognitive functions, and decreasing substance cravings. This study aims to analyze the influence of physical activity on mental disorders.
Research Objective: The primary aim of this literature is to evaluate the impact of physical activity (PA) on mental health, focusing on depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and substance use disorders.
Materials and Methods: A literature review of studies published from 2019–2024 in the PubMed database analyzed clinical trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews on the effects of PA, using the following keywords: “physical activity” ; “depression” ; “anxiety” ; “substance abuse” ; “adhd”.
Conclusions: PA is an effective, accessible adjunct therapy for mental health conditions, providing significant physical and psychological benefits. Future research should prioritize optimizing intervention protocols, investigating long-term effects, and adapting treatments to the specific needs of diverse populations.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9cd2f3af046d4b26902d95d8829429cd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2450-3118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quality in Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-9cd2f3af046d4b26902d95d8829429cd2025-08-20T03:48:46ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-05-014110.12775/QS.2025.41.60020Physical Activity in Mental Health Disorders – Therapeutic Potential and MechnismsMaria Wachowska0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2069-9469Paweł Maciej Rycąbel1https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4039-8312Mateusz Romaniuk2https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1486-5522Marek Jarosław Molenda3https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7900-4970Mateusz Paniak4https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0110-9634Wojciech Jan Sowiński5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2267-4773Oliwia6https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7724-544XMarta Szymura7https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2776-8974Agnieszka Ewelina Wojciechowska8https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3344-9115Michał Brunon Krawczyk9https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9697-6548Podhale Specialist Hospital named after St John Paul II in Nowy Targ, ul. Szpitalna 14, 34-400 Nowy Targ, Poland Independent Public Health Care Center of the Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration in Lublin, ul. Grenadierów 3, 20-331 Lublin, PolandIndependent Public Health Care Center of the Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration in Lublin, ul. Grenadierów 3, 20-331 Lublin, Poland4th Clinical University Hospital in Lublin, ul. Kazimierza Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 LublinCardinal Stefan Wyszyński Province Specialist Hospital in Lublin, ul. al. Kraśnicka 100, 20-718 Lublin, Poland1st Military Clinical Hospital with the Outpatient Clinic, Lublin, PolandIndependent Public Health Care of the Ministry of the Internal Affairs, ul. Kartuska 4/6, 80-104 Gdańsk, PolandIndependent Public Healtcare Center No.1 in Rzeszów, ul. Tadeusza Czackiego 2 35-051 RzeszówCardinal Stefan Wyszyński Province Specialist Hospital in Lublin, ul. al. Kraśnicka 100, 20-718 LublinPediatric Cardiac Surgery Department of Mikołaj Kopernik Hospital in Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland Introduction and Purpose: Mental health disorders are a global public health challenge, with rising emergency visits, especially among youth. Physical activity has gained recognition as an effective intervention for some mental disorders. PA positively affects mental health by enhancing neuroplasticity, neurotransmitter regulation, and reducing inflammation. Aerobic and resistance exercises, as well as yoga, are effective in alleviating depressive symptoms, anxiety, and PTSD, improving ADHD-related cognitive functions, and decreasing substance cravings. This study aims to analyze the influence of physical activity on mental disorders. Research Objective: The primary aim of this literature is to evaluate the impact of physical activity (PA) on mental health, focusing on depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and substance use disorders. Materials and Methods: A literature review of studies published from 2019–2024 in the PubMed database analyzed clinical trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews on the effects of PA, using the following keywords: “physical activity” ; “depression” ; “anxiety” ; “substance abuse” ; “adhd”. Conclusions: PA is an effective, accessible adjunct therapy for mental health conditions, providing significant physical and psychological benefits. Future research should prioritize optimizing intervention protocols, investigating long-term effects, and adapting treatments to the specific needs of diverse populations. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/60020phisycal activitydepressionanxietysubstance abuse;adhd |
| spellingShingle | Maria Wachowska Paweł Maciej Rycąbel Mateusz Romaniuk Marek Jarosław Molenda Mateusz Paniak Wojciech Jan Sowiński Oliwia Marta Szymura Agnieszka Ewelina Wojciechowska Michał Brunon Krawczyk Physical Activity in Mental Health Disorders – Therapeutic Potential and Mechnisms Quality in Sport phisycal activity depression anxiety substance abuse; adhd |
| title | Physical Activity in Mental Health Disorders – Therapeutic Potential and Mechnisms |
| title_full | Physical Activity in Mental Health Disorders – Therapeutic Potential and Mechnisms |
| title_fullStr | Physical Activity in Mental Health Disorders – Therapeutic Potential and Mechnisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical Activity in Mental Health Disorders – Therapeutic Potential and Mechnisms |
| title_short | Physical Activity in Mental Health Disorders – Therapeutic Potential and Mechnisms |
| title_sort | physical activity in mental health disorders therapeutic potential and mechnisms |
| topic | phisycal activity depression anxiety substance abuse; adhd |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/60020 |
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