SUMMARY
Background: The purpose of this review was to consider the impact of being introduced to a sport and sport participation on (a)
weight loss and psychiatric symptoms, (b) any other health benefits in people with schizophrenia, supported by quantitative and
qualitative findings.
Subject and methods: A systematic review in accordance with the PRISMA statement was conducted. Searches were undertaken
in January 2014. Articles were eligible that (1) considered the effect (quantitative studies) and experience (qualitative and case
studies) of either; being introduced to a âsportâ or undertaking a sport activity, (2) included >85% of patients diagnosed with
schizophrenia or schizo-affective spectrum disorders according to recognised criteria.
Results: A total of 10 studies including 5 trials (2pre-experimental, 2controlled trials, 1*randomised control trial), 2
qualitative studies and 3 case studies were included (n=185). Two out of 3 studies that considered weight as an outcome measure
reported significant reductions in weight and psychiatric symptoms following sports participation. The mean reduction in body mass
index (BMI) ranged from -0.7kg.m2 (p<0.001) following 12 weeks of basketball to -1.33 kg.m2 (p<0.001) after 12-weeks of soccer.
The mean reduction in the Positive and Negative Symptoms score ranged from 2.4 points (F=-19.0, p<0.001) following 12 weeks of
basketball to 7.4 points (t=-5.0, p<0.001) following a 40 week programme of horse riding. A range of secondary health and
wellbeing outcomes identified some significant results. Qualitative findings showed that participants had positive experiences from
participating in sports.
Conclusions: Sport participation may result in reduced BMI and psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Sport has
the potential to improve an individualâs quality of life through providing a meaningful normalizing activity that leads to achievement,
success and satisfaction. Well-designed randomised controlled trials are required to fully determine the health effects of sports
participation in schizophrenia.
Key words: schizophrenia â sport - physical activity - systematic review
Those statistics showed pretty strong results. A p value of .001 for 183 people is very thorough, to say the least.
I find physical activity to make my life much higher quality. I enjoy my workouts and I love being a bodybuilder. Bodybuilders are mostly good people, usually young people who have their ducks in a row. Powerlifters are the ones to watch out for. Bodybuilders have more realistic goals and they just want to look good, the point of bodybuilding is to achieve the physique which you dream of having. Powerlifters engage in dangerous training routines and are often compensating for something. Bodybuilders like to help each other out and want to be healthy, powerlifters by definition do not care about their health. They know that the knees arenât supposed to squat 800 or 1000 pounds. They donât care, theyâre reckless. They know damn well that their sport is unhealthy. Not saying that theyâre all bad, just saying that what they do is quite âcrazyâ and hey, we all know that crazy behaviors are not okay. This is a schizophrenia support group. I mean I woke up at 1am psychotic and then took a nap holding a potato at 11am today. Thatâs crazy but not harmful to me or anyone else. I took my medications and remained composed and collective. Squatting 800 lbs and then being sore for a whole week is self harm. I would know because I have done that sort of crap.
I like the fact that who I see in the mirror looks capable of dealing with something as horrific and threatening as schizophrenia.
I feel if I had stuck with baseball after I got cut freshman year for coming off hernia surgery and being sick during tryouts, and spent the whole offseason working out and trying to get ready for sophomore year, I maybe wouldâve never developed schizophrenia. It was the biggest mistake I ever made. After I got cut from baseball I kind of went into a fantasy world, was overweight for a while and stopped caring about anything. And the rest was history.
I would love to get back into horseback riding again. I rode western style. I liked some of the events at the rodeo, but I donât think I could do serious barrel racing. I liked team pinning the best.
I am not able to do cardio on Risperdal. I love jogging and exercise. I hope to start Yoga again once I move.