The Investigation of the Effects of Group Exercise Treatment on Psychological Status, Muscle Strength, Respiratory Performance and Balance Parameters in Hospitalized Patients in Psychiatry Departments: A Randomized Clinical Study

Objective To investigate effects of physical activity on psychological state, muscle strength, respiratory capacity, and balance in patients hospitalized in the psychiatry department. Method Forty-six patients with psychiatric disorders were divided into two groups by simple randomization. The study was completed with 30 participants in exercise group (n = 15) and controls (n = 15). Height, weight, age, marital status, education level, year and family history of psychiatric diagnosis were recorded. The Functional Reach Test for dynamic balance, the Romberg Test for static balance, the 30-sec Sitting and Standing Test for lower extremity endurance, front part strength measurements of Quadriceps Femoris and Deltoid with hand-held dynamometer, chest mobility and respiration types were evaluated. The Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) was used for psychological symptoms and psychopathological features. While exercise protocol was administered to the exercise group along with the medical treatment for psychiatric disorders, only medical treatment was given to controls. A 14-session exercise treatment was performed seven days a week for two weeks. At the end of the second week, the initial measurements of all patients were repeated and analyzed. Results Such psychometric scores as obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety and psychoticism, and muscle strength, axillary and subcostal respiratory capacity scores were statistically significantly different in the exercise group (p < 0.05). In balance and lower extremity endurance, however, there was no superiority of exercise for 14 sessions (p > 0.05). Conclusion The positive effects of group exercises consisting of respiration, posture, and stretching on psychiatric patients were noted to be higher, compared to those on physical parameters.