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The studies are unanimous: the practice of a physical activity would make it possible to fight against mental disorders, and would even be – in certain cases – more effective than certain treatments and drugs. On the occasion of Brain Week, a look back at the many benefits of sport to combat stress, anxiety, and even psychological distress.
A public health issue, mental health is at the heart of the concerns of health authorities around the world to the point of being now considered the evil of the century. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported one in eight people with at least one mental disorder, ie no less than 970 million people in the four corners of the globe. And this without counting on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which would be at the origin of a considerable increase, of the order of + 26% to + 28%, in the number of people affected – although a recent study nuances the impact of the health crisis on mental health.
A particularly deleterious context for mental health
War in Ukraine, economic crisis, climate change, increase in precariousness… these events contribute to deteriorating the mental health of populations. A finding that requires strengthening aid and care in this area, but also prevention. And sport could greatly contribute to the fight against many mental disorders.
It is science, and the health authorities, who say so! Less than a month ago, a report presented by the WHO and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reporting an increase in physical inactivity and insufficient activity levels in the European Union showed that at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week could prevent 11.5 million new cases of non-communicable diseases by 2050, including cases of depression.
“Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for a healthy life. Not only does it significantly reduce the risk of many non-communicable diseases, but it also improves mental health and increases well-being, explains the doctor Kremlin WickramasingheActing Head of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases.
Sport to manage anxiety disorders
The most recent study on the subject is the work of researchers from the University of South Australia who have worked on the impact of the practice of physical activity on mental disorders. Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM), their work is based on 97 reviews, 1,039 trials, and more than 128,000 participants, and suggests that sport, whether yoga, brisk walking, fitness, or others, is beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. If the type of physical activity is of little importance in terms of the impact it can have on mental health, the duration and intensity are not to be neglected. It appears that protocols lasting twelve weeks or less were the most effective, as were high-intensity exercises.
The authors of the study go even further since they explain that the practice of physical activity would be 1.5 times more effective than psychotherapy or the drugs usually prescribed to fight against the symptoms of depression. This finding obviously depends on the intensity of the disorders observed, as well as their nature. According to the study, people with depression, pregnant women, postpartum women, healthy people and people with HIV or kidney disease, are those for whom the practice of sport would be the most beneficial.
“Physical activity is known to help improve mental health. Yet, despite the evidence, it has not been widely adopted as a treatment of first choice,” says lead researcher Dr Ben Singh at the University of South Australia. “We hope this review will highlight the need for physical activity, including structured exercise interventions, as a primary approach to managing depression and anxiety”specifies a co-author of this research work.
Sport and the brain, a connection not to be overlooked
“Mental and physical well-being allows the proper functioning of our brain”, can we read on the official website of Brain Week, whose 25th edition will honor – among other things – the theme “Brain and Sport “. At stake ? Many events – conferences, workshops, and other debates – dealing with the impact of sports practice on the brain, but also the role played by meditation. A practice that scientists are currently working on in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. A conference will deal with this subject online, Tuesday March 14 from 5:30 p.m., with free access but on registration.
For its part, the Federation for Brain Research (FRC) has also been touting the benefits of physical activity on the brain for many years. In a communication dated 2019, she mentions an “improvement in cognitive abilities”, and even explains that the practice of sport “could protect against certain brain pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases and depression”, based on a scientific study. international conducted in 2016.
“It has even been scientifically proven that the practice of regular physical activity protects against Alzheimer’s disease, at least as much as the practice of intellectual activities. The effects of sport on the brain can be indirect (better oxygenation, improved metabolism …), but the practice of a sports activity also releases a number of psychoactive molecules, such as endorphins, which can affect mood and pain circuits”, can we read. So many studies and scientific arguments that show that sport should not be neglected in the fight against mental disorders and other brain pathologies.