Hiking in Suicidal Patients: Neutral Effects on Markers of Suicidality |
| |
Authors: | Daniel Neunhä userer,Josef Sturm,Mira M. Baumgartlinger,David Niederseer,Eveline Ledl-Kurkowski,Eva Steidle,Martin Plö derl,Clemens Fartacek,Karl Kralovec,Reinhold Fartacek,Josef Niebauer |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Department of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Institute of Sports Medicine of the State of Salzburg, Sports Medicine of the Olympic Center Salzburg-Rif, Salzburg, Austria;2. Department for Suicide Prevention, University Clinic for Psychiatry, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria |
| |
Abstract: | BackgroundRegular physical activity promotes physical and mental health. Psychiatric patients are prone to a sedentary lifestyle, and accumulating evidence has identified physical activity as a supplemental treatment option.MethodsThis prospective, randomized, crossover study evaluated the effects of hiking in high-risk suicidal patients (n = 20) who performed 9 weeks of hiking (2-3 hikes/week, 2-2.5 hours each) and a 9-week control period.ResultsAll patients participated in the required 2 hikes per week and thus showed a compliance of 100%. Regular hiking led to significant improvement in maximal exercise capacity (hiking period Δ: +18.82 ± 0.99 watt, P < .001; control period: P = .134) and in aerobic capability at 70% of the individual heart rate reserve (hiking period Δ: +8.47 ± 2.22 watt; P = .010; control period: P = .183). Cytokines, associated previously with suicidality (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, S100), remained essentially unchanged.ConclusionsHiking is an effective and safe form of exercise training even in high-risk suicidal patients. It leads to a significant improvement in maximal exercise capacity and aerobic capability without concomitant deterioration of markers of suicidality. Offering this popular mode of exercise to these patients might help them to adopt a physically more active lifestyle. |
| |
Keywords: | Depression Endurance training Hiking Hopelessness Physical exercise training Suicide prevention |
本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录! |
|