It has long been known that playing sports has a beneficial effect not only on physical condition, but also on psychological well-being. This is due to the biochemical processes that occur in the body during sports. In addition, there are many techniques that are aimed specifically at supporting people with mental illnesses and disorders that help as part of mainstream treatment.
The positive effects of sports have been known for a long time, and almost everyone has felt an increase in energy and improved mood after visiting the gym. This effect is associated with biochemical reactions in our body, which are a response to physical activity. At the same time, in modern medicine there are several techniques that are aimed specifically at supporting people with mental disorders. Typically, sports therapy is used as an additional psychotherapeutic technique as part of a course of treatment.
As a rule, sports therapy is recommended for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, personality disorder, alcoholism, drug addiction, and insomnia. At the same time, different methods will be recommended for different diseases. For example, for schizophrenia, the most effective are exercises aimed at maintaining shape and muscle tone (very often patients with this diagnosis stop monitoring their physical condition); for alcoholism or drug addiction, yoga therapy may be recommended; for insomnia, depression, or anxiety - therapy according to the Moshe Feldenkrais method.
Sports therapy has a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, and on maintaining muscle tone. However, in addition to these obvious benefits, sports therapy has the following effects:
• Increased oxygen supply to the brain
• Increased sensitivity to drugs
• Strengthening the therapeutic effect of the main treatment
• Improved overall well-being and mood
• Acceleration of acclimatization
• Elimination of possible side effects when taking medications
The method of sports therapy, the frequency of classes and the time of classes are always determined individually: for some patients, training 2 times a week for half an hour is enough to improve their well-being, others need a more intensive course with classes for 1-1.5 hours.
One of the effective techniques that is used at the «IsraClinic» is the technique developed by the Israeli engineer Moshe Feldenkrais. He developed his own system of classes based on conscious work with the body. Classes begin with small movements, which, as the patient engages in sports therapy, are combined into many more complex exercises. The main idea that underlies his technique is awareness through movement. That is, the patient must concentrate on performing the exercise and understand how his body works. Feldenkrais said that self-image consists of 4 components - movement, sensation, feeling, thinking. For example, if a person is angry, his facial expressions are tense, his fists are clenched, his legs are crossed, his neck is lowered, his back is leaning forward. In this way he moves, is aware and thinks. And to replace anger with a more constructive emotion, you can relax your face and smile, straighten your back, relax your arms and legs. During classes, the Feldenkrais method instructor clearly shows how the execution of movements and even their amplitude changes if you approach their implementation consciously.
The Feldenkrais technique is well suited for depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, insomnia, and others. Advantages of this technique:
• Helps you concentrate on doing exercises
• Teaches conscious work with the body
• Helps overcome anxiety, low mood
• Suitable for further independent study
• Helps cope with muscle tension that can occur with various psychological disorders
• Teaches you to change emotions from negative to positive with the help of conscious movements
• Suitable for people of all ages
• Does not burden the cardiovascular system and musculoskeletal system
Sports therapy instructors at «IsraClinic» have the knowledge and necessary skills to practice according to the Moshe Feldenkrais system. Our long-term practice shows that this technique has a beneficial effect on patients with a wide variety of diseases in the field of psychiatry.