Wellness Wednesday

Exercise: It's Just What the Doctor Ordered

According to a recent study conducted by Michigan State University, mental health providers may want to look at look at exercise as a form of treatment in their patient's plan of care. 

Exercise is an important part of maintaining a personal wellness portfolio. Not only does exercise keep you trim, but it also ensures a healthy GI, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal system. It's also fairly well known that exercise assists in keeping depression at bay, but what if mental health professionals aren't doing enough to ensure their patients are getting enough exercise? A recent study conducted by Michigan State University asked 295 mental health patients if they wanted to be more active, if they thought being more active helped boost their mood, and if they wanted their therapists to help them be more active.

At the conclusion of the survey, the researchers found that 80% of respondents believed that exercise helped their mental health in a positive manner while 85% of respondents stated that they wished they could get more exercise. More than 50% also stated that they wanted more advice and discussion from their provider about how to get more exercise and information on the benefits that exercise has on mental health. The problem for many patients is that their mood affects their ability to get out and complete physical activity. With this new information in hand, mental health providers should begin looking at partnerships with fitness facilities or in-house fitness options.