Physical Activity for Anxiety

Strategies to encourage health, reduce secondary complications and consequently support positive emotional adjustment following SCI have emerged as a source of increasing research interest. As examples, the following studies review the impact of regular exercise upon various measures of physical health and emotional well-being.

Discussion

Three studies evaluated physical activity in improving anxiety symptoms post SCI. Akkurt et al. (2017) found no significant difference in levels of anxiety among those in the arm ergometer plus standard exercise group compared to standard exercise alone. Curtis et al. (2017) found participation in a yoga program resulted in decreased symptoms of anxiety post intervention. Kennedy et al. (2006) found increasing level of physical activities such as skiing, horseback riding, resulted in improvement in anxiety levels post intervention.

Conclusion

There is level 1b evidence (K. Curtis et al. 2017) that yoga may decrease symptoms of anxiety post SCI.

There is level 4 evidence (P. Kennedy et al. 2006) that increased physical activity through various outlets may improve anxiety symptoms.