Let's Play Sports!
Physical activity has been correlated with improved mental health, but what about sports? Are there additional benefits to playing team-based, organized athletics beyond adolescence?
Physical activity has been stressed by professionals and experts in the health and wellness field for a long time. And for good reason! The function and benefits range from general well-being, to improving joint integrity, to treatment programs for a variety of health issues. New research has established a connection between regular physical activity and improvements in mental health. Slightly one-half of adults reported regular physical activity (60.3), which was associated with a significantly decreased prevalence of current major depression and anxiety disorders (Goodwin, 2003, p.2). With the incline we've seen in poor mental health the last decade, we should spread the news!
Exercise and mental health go hand in hand. Exercise is associated with improved mood, decreased stress, and reducing the feelings of depression and anxiety. For many, moderate exercise has been associated with similar results to therapeutic and pharmaceutical treatments. These benefits to our cognitive wellbeing may be achieved by as little at 15-20 minutes of exercise, 3-4 times per week.
Anxiety symptoms and disorders are widely prevalent and costly. Prospective studies suggest that physical activity might have the power to prevent the development of anxiety (McDowell et al, 2019, p.1).