The modern employee: exercise and the brain

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-65
Author(s):  
Pamela Guggina
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Regular Exercise ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Clinically Depressed ◽  
The Brain

Purpose An area of workplace well-being, and thus performance, which is now being recognized more widely is the mental health of employees. Research today demonstrates that exercise is good for the body and dramatically affects the brain. While it is widely accepted that regular exercise can promote weight loss, lower blood pressure and decrease the risks of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers, it is also becoming clear that exercise can improve mood, coping skills and even treat clinical depression and anxiety. These findings further support the upward trend of companies offering a wider range of health benefits to their employees. Design/methodology/approach One example of the combined research, Rethorst et al., published a large meta-analysis exploring the interaction between physical activity and depression. They examined 58 randomized trails and found that participants in the studies who had been randomized to use exercise as a treatment for depression had significantly lower depression scores than participants who had been randomized to the non-exercise or “control” group. Both clinically depressed and non-clinically depressed individuals reported lower depression scores if they participated in the exercise group. Findings Exercise can be as effective as medication in treating depression. Regular exercise can decrease the symptoms of clinical anxiety. Employers who incentivize physical activity can dramatically lower healthcare costs. Benefits packages which promote physical activity can increase productivity and decrease absenteeism. Originality/value There will always be people with an illness which requires medication, but there appears to be a group that will benefit greatly from getting out and moving with regular exercise. The hope is that physicians with patients who have symptoms of depression and anxiety will encourage their patients to get some exercise to see if it helps. This can be something that is done alone or as an adjunct to talk therapy and/or pharmacologic treatment. Exercise is not likely to change the circumstances that make life challenging, but it can help all humans cope better with these challenges.

scholarly journals Knowledge, Awareness, Prevalence and Frequency of Daily Physical Activity and Its Association with Stroke in Young Adult Population

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL3) ◽  
pp. 507-513
Author(s):  
Sai Sanjith A ◽  
Karthik Ganesh Mohanraj
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
The Body ◽  
Daily Physical Activity ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
The Brain

Stroke is a medical condition affecting the brain. It occurs when the blood supply to the brain or part of the brain is stopped or reduced, preventing the brain cells from getting oxygen. As the neurons are the most sensitive cells in the body, they tend to die after cessation of oxygen supply for a very few minutes. Several remedial measures are available for this medical emergency at the time of stroke and even after that. It is believed that the stroke recurs after time and thus preparatory and cautionary steps to be carried out for survival. Among that daily physical activity seems to have a greater positive approach towards stroke survivors. In general, physical activity is an essential part of human life which many people neglect. But it has an underlying significance for human life and healthy well-being. It maintains the body's health condition free of certain diseases too. Thus, this study attempts to analyze the awareness and to knowledge the people about the association between stroke and daily physical activity.

scholarly journals Effects of Smartphone-based Interventions on Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zihao He ◽  
Hua Wu ◽  
Fengyu Yu ◽  
Jinmei Fu ◽  
Shunli Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Subgroup Analyses ◽  
Smartphone Intervention

BACKGROUND About 70% of children and adolescents worldwide do not meet the recommended level of physical activity (PA), which is closely associated with physical, psychological, and cognitive well-being. Nowadays, the use of technologies to change PA is of interest due to the need for novel, more effective intervention approaches. The previous meta-analyses have examined smartphone-based interventions and their impact on PA in adults, but evidence in children and adolescents still needs further research. OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of smartphone-based interventions for improving PA in children and adolescents. METHODS Five electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, OVID, Scopus, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched for a randomized controlled trial, smartphone-based intervention on PA levels of children and adolescents were obtained. Bias risks were assessed using the Cochrane collaboration tool. Meta-analysis was performed to assess the pooled effect on PA. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the potential modifying effects of different factors. RESULTS A total of 9 studies were included in this review, including 4 mobile application (APP) interventions, 3 short message service (SMS) text messaging interventions, and 2 APP+SMS interventions. Compared with the control group, the use of smartphone intervention significantly improved PA (SMD=0.44, 95%: 0.11-0.77), especially for total PA (TPA) and daily steps, but not for moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). The results of subgroup analyses indicated that APP, children, duration ≤8 weeks, objective measurement, and low risk of bias can significantly improve PA. CONCLUSIONS Smartphone-based intervention may be a promising strategy to increase TPA and steps in children and adolescents, but the effect of the intervention on MVPA remains to be studied. Currently, APP intervention may be a more effective strategy among smartphone intervention technologies.

scholarly journals Effects of Regular Physical Activity on Brain Function

2020 ◽  
pp. 19-21
Author(s):  
Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Prostiakov ◽  
Aleksei Mikhailovich Spirin ◽  
Elena Iurevna Kozenko
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Intellectual Development ◽  
The Body ◽  
Regular Exercise ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Regular Physical Exercise

The article studies the connection between mental and intellectual development and regular physical exercise. The subject is considered topical due to the widespread fallacious judgements of sport and studies of its influence on various aspects of our life. The primary purpose of this article is to determine the effect of regular exercise on the brain and establish whether it is a positive one. The research methods used in this study included description, observation, literature review and summary. The article is based on the results of theoretical studies of other researchers and the author’s own observations. In the course of study, a positive effect of regular exercise on intellectual and mental activity was established. The authors can therefore conclude that physical activity does not only benefit the body, but also the brain by improving memory, concentration and reaction, helps transport oxygen minimizes the risk of anxiety, depression and stress, and develops the nervous system.

scholarly journals Physical activity coaching for adults with mobility limitations: protocol for the ComeBACK pragmatic hybrid effectiveness-implementation type 1 randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e034696
Author(s):  
Leanne Hassett ◽  
Anne Tiedemann ◽  
Rana S Hinman ◽  
Maria Crotty ◽  
Tammy Hoffmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Waiting List ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mobility Limitations ◽  
Intervention Package ◽  
Motivational Resources

IntroductionMobility limitation is common and often results from neurological and musculoskeletal health conditions, ageing and/or physical inactivity. In consultation with consumers, clinicians and policymakers, we have developed two affordable and scalable intervention packages designed to enhance physical activity for adults with self-reported mobility limitations. Both are based on behaviour change theories and involve tailored advice from physiotherapists.Methods and analysisThis pragmatic hybrid effectiveness-implementation type 1 randomised control trial (n=600) will be undertaken among adults with self-reported mobility limitations. It aims to estimate the effects on physical activity of: (1) an enhanced 6-month intervention package (one face-to-face physiotherapy assessment, tailored physical activity plan, physical activity phone coaching from a physiotherapist, informational/motivational resources and activity monitors) compared with a less intensive 6-month intervention package (single session of tailored phone advice from a physiotherapist, tailored physical activity plan, unidirectional text messages, informational/motivational resources); (2) the enhanced intervention package compared with no intervention (6-month waiting list control group); and (3) the less intensive intervention package compared with no intervention (waiting list control group). The primary outcome will be average steps per day, measured with the StepWatch Activity Monitor over a 1-week period, 6 months after randomisation. Secondary outcomes include other physical activity measures, measures of health and functioning, individualised mobility goal attainment, mental well-being, quality of life, rate of falls, health utilisation and intervention evaluation. The hybrid effectiveness-implementation design (type 1) will be used to enable the collection of secondary implementation outcomes at the same time as the primary effectiveness outcome. An economic analysis will estimate the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of the interventions compared with no intervention and to each other.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained by Sydney Local Health District, Royal Prince Alfred Zone. Dissemination will be via publications, conferences, newsletters, talks and meetings with health managers.Trial registration numberACTRN12618001983291.

scholarly journals Using Brain-Breaks® as a Technology Tool to Increase Attitude towards Physical Activity among Students in Singapore

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 784
Author(s):  
Govindasamy Balasekaran ◽  
Ahmad Arif Bin Ibrahim ◽  
Ng Yew Cheo ◽  
Phua Kia Wang ◽  
Garry Kuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
School Students ◽  
Mixed Model Analysis ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Brain Breaks ◽  
Student's Attitudes ◽  
The Brain

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of classroom-based Brain Breaks® Physical Activity Solution in Southeast Asia Singaporean primary school students and their attitude towards physical activity (PA) over a ten-week intervention. A total of 113 participants (8–11 years old) were randomly assigned to either an experimental (EG) or a control group (CG), with six classes to each group; the Brain Breaks® group (EG: six classes) and the Control group (CG: six classes). All EG members participated in a Brain Breaks® video intervention (three–five min) during academic classes and the CG continued their lessons as per normal. The student’s attitudes towards PA in both research conditions were evaluated using the self–reported Attitudes toward Physical Activity Scale (APAS), applied before and after intervention. The effects of the intervention on APAS scores were analysed using a mixed model analysis of variance with Time as within-subject and Group as between-subject factors. The analysis revealed evidence in support of the positive effect of classroom video interventions such as Brain Breaks® on student’s attitudes toward benefits, importance, learning, self-efficacy, fun, fitness, and trying to do their personal best in PA. The Brain Breaks® intervention provided a positive significant impact on students in Singapore. This study also revealed that interactive technology tools implemented into the school curriculum benefit students in terms of health and education.

Experimental delayed radiation necrosis of the brain

1979 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert N. Martins ◽  
Ralph E. Severance ◽  
James M. Henry ◽  
Thomas F. Doyle
Keyword(s):  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Radiation Necrosis ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brain Irradiation ◽  
Primate Brain ◽  
High Doses ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Male Rhesus

✓ The authors have designed an experiment to detect a hitherto unrecognized interaction between high doses of the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, and brain irradiation. Eighteen juvenile male rhesus monkeys received 1800 rads to the whole brain in 8.5 minutes. For 1½ days before and 10½ days after the irradiation, nine animals received approximately 2.9 mg/kg/day of dexamethasone intramuscularly in addition to irradiation, while the remaining nine animals served as the control group and received saline. All animals eventually developed a progressive neurological syndrome, and died of delayed radiation necrosis of the brain. The two groups were compared with regard to latency to onset of clinical signs, survival time, and number, distribution, and location of lesions of radionecrosis. Large doses of dexamethasone did not alter the susceptibility of the primate brain to delayed radiation necrosis. Detailed morphological study of the radionecrotic lesions supports the hypothesis that most, if not all, of the lesions develop as the consequence of injury to blood vessels.

Evaluating the effectiveness of interventions to reducing screen time in children: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Duygu Akçay ◽  
Nuray Barış
Keyword(s):  
Effect Size ◽  
Subgroup Analysis ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mean Differences ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of interventions focused on reducing screen time in children. Design/methodology/approach Studies that aim to investigate the effects of interventions aimed at reducing the time spent in front of the screen (i.e. screen time). A Random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled standard mean differences. The outcome was to evaluate the screen time in children in the 0–18 age range. A subgroup analysis was performed to reveal the extent to which the overall effect size varied by subgroups (participant age, duration of intervention and follow). Findings For the outcome, the meta-analysis included 21 studies, and the standard difference in mean change in screen time in the intervention group compared with the control group was −0.16 (95% confidence interval [CI], −0.21 to −0.12) (p < 0.001). The effect size was found to be higher in long-term (=7 months) interventions and follow-ups (p < 0.05). Originality/value Subgroup analysis showed that a significant effect of screen time reduction was observed in studies in which the duration of intervention and follow-up was =7 months. As the evidence base grows, future researchers can contribute to these findings by conducting a more comprehensive analysis of effect modifiers and optimizing interventions to reduce screen time.

How perceived information transparency and psychological attitude impact on the financial well-being: mediating role of financial self-efficacy

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman ◽  
Khalid Latif ◽  
Muhammad Mohsin ◽  
Zahid Hussain ◽  
Sajjad Ahmad Baig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Productivity Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Transparency ◽  
Psychological Attitude

PurposeThe basic intention of this research is to investigate the role of information transparency of financial institutions and psychological attitude of the individuals toward their attention to saving and borrowing. This study also tries to know how an individual's psychological factor affects a person's attitude to motivate them to save or borrow and contribute to well-being by giving them confidence that they can face financial challenges. So, the main concern of this study is to explore different factors that ultimately contribute to the financial well-being (FWB) of individual.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted by using a well-structured questionnaire to collect data and test the developed hypotheses by using SmartPLS. Data were collected from 120 customers of seven different commercial banks in Pakistan.FindingsThe findings of this study show that perceived information transparency positively affects FWB. It is also because transparent shared information creates positive change in individuals' perceived self-efficacy and leads to FWB. Furthermore, an individual's psychological attitude toward borrowing and saving did not contribute to the FWB of people who belong to Pakistan.Research limitations/implicationsThe research area is limited to one city of Pakistan and analysis is done with small numbers of sample, it can be increased and more areas can be explored.Practical implicationsThis research provides significant implications for people and economists by providing awareness about the antecedents of FWB. The policymakers or managers who work in financial institutions should provide more transparent information and create less risky opportunities to improve the individual's well-being. If person, manager and financial institution can properly utilize the information of this study, then they are able to improve their FWB. By providing more transparent services and favorable experience with your dealings, it could help to obtain and retain more loyal internal (employees) and external customers. The loyal customers and sincere employees can increase the productivity level of organization. The more productive organizations in countries means better society and progress in the economy.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the body of knowledge that how perceived information transparency and psychological attitude of borrowing create improvement and upward changes in the FWB of a person.

scholarly journals How managers experience situations involving employee mental ill-health

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 442-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Martin ◽  
Megan Woods ◽  
Sarah Dawkins
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Safety Climate ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Issue ◽  
Mental Health Issue ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Mental health conditions such as depression are prevalent in working adults, costly to employers, and have implications for legal liability and corporate social responsibility. Managers play an important role in determining how employees’ and organizations’ interests are reconciled in situations involving employee mental ill-health issues. The purpose of this paper is to explore these situations from the perspective of managers in order to develop theory and inform practice in workplace mental health promotion. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 Australian managers who had supervised an employee with a mental health issue. Interview transcripts were content analyzed to explore themes in managers’ experiences. Findings Managing an employee with a mental health issue involves becoming aware of the issue, taking action to understand the situation and develop an action response, implementing the response and managing the ongoing situation. Each of these tasks had a range of positive and negative aspects to them, e.g., managing the situation can be experienced as both a source of stress for the manager but also as an opportunity to develop greater management skills. Practical implications Understanding line managers’ experiences is critical to successful implementation of HR policies regarding employee health and well-being. HR strategies for dealing with employee mental health issues need to consider implementation support for managers, including promotion of guiding policies, training, emotional support and creating a psychosocial safety climate in their work units or teams. Originality/value The insights gained from this study contribute to the body of knowledge regarding psychosocial safety climate, an emergent theoretical framework concerned with values, attitudes and philosophy regarding worker psychological health. The findings also have important implications for strategic human resource management approaches to managing mental health in the workplace.

Morphometry in schizophrenia revisited: height and its relationship to pre-morbid function

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 655-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. NOPOULOS ◽  
M. FLAUM ◽  
S. ARNDT ◽  
N. ANDREASEN
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Adjustment ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
The Body ◽  
Abnormal Development ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Lower Quartile ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Brain

Background. Morphometry, the measurement of forms, is an ancient practice. In particular, schizophrenic somatology was popular early in this century, but has been essentially absent from the literature for over 30 years. More recently, evidence has grown to support the notion that aberrant neurodevelopment may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Is the body, like the brain, affected by abnormal development in these patients?Methods. To evaluate global deficit in development and its relationship to pre-morbid function, height was compared in a large group (N=226) of male schizophrenics and a group of healthy male controls (N=142) equivalent in parental socio-economic status. Patients in the lower quartile of height were compared to those in the upper quartile of height.Results. The patient group had a mean height of 177·1 cm, which was significantly shorter than the mean height of the control group of 179·4 (P<0·003). Those in the lower quartile had significantly poorer pre-morbid function as measured by: (1) psychosocial adjustment using the pre-morbid adjustment scales for childhood and adolescence/young adulthood, and (2) cognitive function using measures of school performance such as grades and need for special education. In addition, these measures of pre-morbid function correlated significantly with height when analysed using the entire sample.Conclusions. These findings provide further support to the idea that abnormal development may play a key role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Furthermore, this is manifested as a global deficit in growth and function resulting in smaller stature, poorer social skills, and deficits in cognitive abilities.

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