Exercise not only affects the fitness of the local area such as muscles, ligaments and joints but also the function of the entire person physically, emotionally and mentally.
In any system of organization one of the main characteristics of breakdown of that system is the slowing down of movement, a decrease in flexibility. Rigidity is a sign of a decreasing ability to respond. In other words, whether it is on a physical, mental or emotional level, flexibility is youthful and adaptable while rigidity is old, staid and decrepit. Because the nerve system connects and controls every function of the human body we find that when movement occurs in one area all areas of the body are affected. In other words if our body has the opportunity to exercise and move properly it will not only affect the fitness of the local area such as muscles, ligaments and joints but also the function of the entire person physically, emotionally and mentally. Recent research published in the Journal of Ageing and Physical Activity has shown that exercise can improve mental abilities in the elderly and go some way to preventing mental decline. The scientists found mental abilities, or cognitive functioning, improved with exercise. James Blumenthal, a psychologist at the Duke University Medical Centre, in Durham, North Carolina, said one of the key findings was that exercise had beneficial effects on functions controlled by specific areas of the brain. Memory, planning, organization and juggling different tasks all improved under the study. The research, named Smile (Standard Medical Intervention and Long Term Exercise), involved 156 patients aged between 50 and 77, who had a major depressive disorder. They were randomly assigned to three groups. One did 30 minutes of aerobic exercise - using an exercise bike, walking or jogging – three times a week. The second group took an anti-depressant. The third undertook a combination of the two. After 16 weeks, all three groups showed the same degree of improvement in standard measures of depression, leading the researchers to conclude exercise was as effective as medication. Improvements were seen "above and beyond" what was expected after the depression had lifted, said the researchers. So, if you or your loved ones are finding your mental capacities are slowing or getting a bit rusty, maybe its time to get smart and exercise.
About the Author
Dr Richard Sawyer is a practicing Chiropractor and founding member of Ozchiropractic: a group of Chiropractors in Australia oriented to deliver lifetime wellness for families through spinal health.