By Dylan D’Souza, Exercise Physiologist, Physioworks Health Group
A core objective of the Physioworks Health Group in supporting our communities is to help all with their physical health, fitness & mental well-being.
It is widely acknowledged that across Australian communities many have encountered mental health challenges & disorders at some point in life.
The burden of mental health issues continues to grow in Australia. According to the AIHW Mental Health Services report in 2017-18 suicide was the leading cause of death for men aged 18-44 years. And the challenges of COVID-19 this year has placed much strain on the mental health of many across all demographics of our communities.
Common treatment for mental health often includes medication, talk therapy & significant lifestyle changes, including exercise & diet review. There are many different types of mental health disorders, which all present differently, however generally they involve changes to emotions, thinking and/or behaviour.
Common mental health disorders include (but are not limited to):
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bi-Polar Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Psychosis
- Dementia
- Feelings of consistent low mood
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Eating Disorders
- Postnatal depression
- Alcohol/drug abuse
How can Physioworks Health Group help with the management of these disorders?
Exercise.
Anyone who has exercised before can probably tell you that they always feel great afterwards (and not just because the exercise is over!). Exercise is a simple & effective tool that individuals can utilise to help manage mental health, and the Physioworks Exercise Physiology team can support & assist you in tailoring a managed exercise program.
Research has proven that exercise releases chemicals in the brain which are called endorphins, these are anti-stress hormones. One of its affects is to calm the brain & relieve muscle pain during strenuous exercise.
Exercise also regulates the same chemical messengers targeted by antidepressant drugs. Exercise elevates the concentration of Norepinephrine in the body which acts as a messenger between nerve cells, this increase wakes the brain up, causing you to feel good, more alert & less fatigued.
In addition there are other benefits to exercise such as increased self-esteem, resilience & confidence; all major components with impact on mental health disorders.
It is important that individuals with mental health disorders exercise safely & in a way that is specific to them. Therefore being assessed by an Accredited Exercise Physiologist will benefit to assist in best outcomes.
At Physioworks Health Group, our Exercise Physiology team pride themselves on holistic person-centred care, supporting & managing tailored exercise programs for clients. We truly believe that “Everyone is an athlete… we just have different events” and that we can help support “your event”:
- Improve your self-esteem?
- Improve your mood & energy levels?
- Manage your stress levels?
- Improve your sleep quality?
- Combat fatigue?
Can we help you with your Mental Health? For more information, please contact our experienced Exercise Physiology team at your preferred Physioworks Health Group clinic.