Endurance training in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls: differences and similarities

Abstract

The aims were to examine the feasibility of and adaptations to endurance training in persons diagnosed with schizophrenia and to address the question whether the principles and beneficial effects of endurance training established in the healthy population apply also to patients with schizophrenia. In this controlled interventional study, 22 patients with schizophrenia and 22 healthy controls performed a standardized aerobic endurance training on bicycle ergometers over 12 weeks. Another group of 21 patients with schizophrenia played table soccer. Endurance capacity was measured with incremental cycle ergometry before and after the intervention and 3 months later. A specific set of outcome parameters was defined. The training stimuli can be assumed to be similar in both endurance groups. Endurance capacity improved significantly in the endurance groups, but not in the table soccer group. Patients and healthy controls showed comparable adaptations to endurance training, as assessed by physical working capacity and maximal achieved power. Differences were found in changes of performance at a lactate concentration of 3 mmol/l. Endurance training was feasible and effective in both groups. The principles and types of training that are usually applied to healthy controls need to be verified in patients with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, patients benefited from endurance training in terms of improvement of endurance capacity and reduction in the baseline deficit in comparison with healthy controls. Therefore, endurance training should be implemented in future therapy programs. These programs need to pay special attention to the differences between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls.

How much physical activity do people with schizophrenia engage in? A systematic review, comparative meta-analysis and meta-regression

“…234 full texts were reviewed and 199 were excluded with reasons (see Fig. 1), with 35 unique studies meeting the eligibility criteria (Arbour-Nicitopoulos et al, 2014;Arbour-Nicitopoulos et al, 2010;Attux et al, 2013;Baker et al, 2014;Beebe et al, 2011;Bredin et al, 2013;Brunero and Lamont, 2010;Curtis et al, 2015;Faulkner et al, 2006;Firth et al, 2016;Gardner-Sood et al, 2015;Gomes et al, 2014Gomes et al, , 2015Gorczynski et al, 2014;Janney, 2012;Janney et al, 2015;Keller-Varady et al, 2015;Kimhy et al, 2014;Leutwyler et al, 2013Leutwyler et al, , 2015Lindamer et al, 2008;Lovell et al, 2014;Masa-Font et al, 2015;McCreadie, 2003;McKibbin et al, 2006;McLeod et al, 2009;Morgan et al, 2014;Ostermann et al, 2012;Scheewe et al, 2013;Snethen et al, 2014;Vancampfort et al, 2013aVancampfort et al, , 2013cVancampfort et al, , 2015aVreeland et al, 2003;Wang et al, 2012) Full details of the search results are summarized in Fig. 1.…”

Effects of physical activity on treatmentof schizophrenia

“…However, in contrast to healthy population, schizophrenia patients are characterized by features which decrease their motivation to engage in physical activity (ie. treatment-induced sedation, schizophrenia symptoms, poorer education, lacking experience with exercise; or social withdrawal) [63], which implies that they might benefit from external motivational interventions or supervision from a sports scientist to increase their mo-Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 2019; 1: 28-35 tivation to participate, making training both effective and feasible [64].…”

Sporttherapie bei Schizophrenie

“…Müdigkeit und Sedierung als Nebenwirkungen der pharmakologischen Behandlung, geringe Vorerfahrungen mit Sport und wenige soziale Kontakte erschweren die Aufnahme eines regelmäßigen Trainings [45]. Eigene Forschungsergebnisse [46] und eine Metaanalyse [35] verweisen auf die außerordentliche Bedeutung der Betreuung durch einen Trainer für den Erfolg der sporttherapeutischen Intervention.…”