The effect of aerobic exercise on quality of life in male patients with schizophrenia. Download PDF

Objective: Having a chronic mental disorders such as schizophrenia prone the patient to stress, dependence, the problems in life skills, employment and social relationships. People with schizophrenia compared to normal individuals are lower quality of life. Nowadays, the exercise is used as a way to prevent disease, improve health and well-being. Unfortunately, in spite of limited studies on the effects of exercise on patients with schizophrenia, sport variables underlying these effects has not been quite clear and evaluated. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of regular aerobic exercise on quality of life of male patients with chronic schizophrenia hospitalized. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 68 patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received aerobic exercise 24 sessions for 8 weeks total for 11 hours, while the control group was given use of fresh air simultaneously. Schizophrenic quality of life scale (SQLS) was completed before and after intervention in both groups. Quality of life was scored in both groups. The data were analyzed in SPSS13 using t-test, and chi-squared test. Results: There was significant difference in dimensions of Psychosocial, motivation and energy and symptoms and side effects. Also there was significant difference in quality life mean scores before and after the intervention in control and intervention groups among (p≤0.05).The application of aerobic exercise significantly increases the quality of life level in the participants (p<0.05). Conclusions: Using regular aerobic exercise in patients with schizophrenia could be a strong complementary therapy in improving quality of life.