Physical activity has been associated with health and longevity since ancient times.

The

relationship is in line with the health paradigm, which holds that health is not only the absence of

illness but also a state of mental and physical wellbeing. As such, regular physical activity

positively contributes to physical and psychological wellness in multiple ways, preventing a

variety of illnesses. Yet, despite such evidence, few people participate in vigorous exercise

activities. Regular physical activity is particularly valuable in reducing the risk of mental health

conditions and promoting physical functioning through its dose-response relation with a number

of physiological and psychological conditions.

Adherence to regular physical exercise is effective in promoting mental wellbeing. The long-

term protection that frequent physical activity affords against numerous mental health complaints

is well documented. Maugeri et al. (2020) argue that exercise has a dose-response relation with a

wide range of psychological conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Recent meta-analytic

findings suggest that only moderate-to-high-intensity aerobic exercise exceeding 21 minutes

leads to changes in self-reported anxiety symptoms among clinical and non-clinical samples

(Herbert et al., 2020). The argument is that recurrent physical exercise poses anxiety tolerance to

the brain, resulting in high self-esteem, optimism, and happiness. People who continue to

exercise can have lower scores in mental conditions than their sedentary counterparts. Thus,

regular physical exercise reduces the risk of mental ill-health.

Another psychological benefit of regular physical exercise involves mood elevation. Typically,

changes in muscle tension following an exercise activity may produce desirable feelings via

various mechanisms. (CITE) posits that participating in extra leisure activities leads to reduced

feeling of lethargy and fatigue while increasing self-esteem score. In the same vein, regular

exercise activities like aerobics induce a feeling of self-satisfaction while reducing distraction

from stress-inducing condition (CITE). Increased self-esteem and satisfaction repress feelings of

hopelessness, self-blame, and perceived lack of self-control. In this view, regular physical

exercise offer unique stress reducing effect that promote positive mental health.

Regular physical exercise is also linked with optimum physical functioning. Frequent physical

activity has a protective effect that enhances the physical functioning of the human body.

Usually, inactivity is the breeding ground for alteration in body composition, resulting in an

increase in fat and a decline in lean body mass (Herbert et al., 2020; Carriedo et al., 2020). Recent

studies have revealed a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease thanks to regular

physical activities, which increases physical fitness (Langhammer et al., 2018; Birgitta et al.,

2018). For instance, strength training that incorporates activities (such as weight lifting, pushups,

and resistance band activities) increases physical and musculoskeletal fitness, reducing the risk

of chronic illnesses like heart disease or diabetes. With these benefits, regular physical exercise is

especially recommended to adults to heighten their physical performance and reduce the risk of

falls. In this regard, regular physical exercise can help maintain quality of life, health, and

physical function.
The benefits of regular physical activity are well documented. Studies suggest that individuals

who engage in physical exercise frequently have increased protection against mental health

conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Similarly, exercise is central to promoting optimum

physical functioning by reducing the risk of lifestyle diseases, including diabetes and

cardiovascular diseases. The clinical relevance of the presented findings suggests that people

should engage in regular physical exercise as a preventive strategy for mental and physical

health.

References APA

Herbert, C., Meixner, F., Wiebking, C., & Gilg, V. (2020). Regular physical activity, short-term

exercise, mental health, and well-being among university students: The results of an online

and a laboratory study. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1–13.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00509
Maugeri, G., Castrogiovanni, P., Battaglia, G., Pippi, R., D’Agata, V., Palma, A., Di Rosa, M., &

Musumeci, G. (2020). The impact of physical activity on psychological health during

covid-19 pandemic in Italy. Heliyon, 6(6), 1–14.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04315

Langhammer, B., Bergland, A., & Rydwik, E. (2018). The importance of physical activity

exercise among older people. BioMed Research International, 2018, 1–3.

https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/7856823

MLA

Herbert, Cornelia, et al. “Regular Physical Activity, Short-Term Exercise, Mental Health, and

Well-Being among University Students: The Results of an Online and a Laboratory

Study.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 11, 2020, pp. 1–13,

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00509.
(Herbert et al.)

Maugeri, Grazia, et al. “The Impact of Physical Activity on Psychological Health during Covid-

19 Pandemic in Italy.” Heliyon, vol. 6, no. 6, 2020, pp. 1–14,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04315.

(Maugeri et al.)

Langhammer, Birgitta, et al. “The Importance of Physical Activity Exercise among Older

People.” BioMed Research International, vol. 2018, 2018, pp. 1–3,

https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/7856823.

(Maugeri et al.)

Carriedo, Alejandro, et al. “Covid-19, Psychological Well-Being and Physical Activity Levels in

Older Adults during the Nationwide Lockdown in Spain.” The American Journal of

Geriatric Psychiatry, vol. 28, no. 11, 2020, pp. 1146–1155,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2020.08.007.

(Carriedo et al.)

Chicago
Intext

Birgitta Langhammer, Astrid Bergland, and Elisabeth Rydwik, “The Importance of Physical

Activity Exercise among Older People,” BioMed Research International 2018 (2018): 1–3,

https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/7856823.

Grazia Maugeri et al., “The Impact of Physical Activity on Psychological Health during Covid-

19 Pandemic in Italy,” Heliyon 6, no. 6 (2020): 1–14,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04315.

Cornelia Herbert et al., “Regular Physical Activity, Short-Term Exercise, Mental Health, and

Well-Being among University Students: The Results of an Online and a Laboratory Study,”

Frontiers in Psychology 11 (2020): 1–13, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00509.

Alejandro Carriedo et al., “Covid-19, Psychological Well-Being and Physical Activity Levels in

Older Adults during the Nationwide Lockdown in Spain,” The American Journal of Geriatric

Psychiatry 28, no. 11 (2020): 1146–55, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2020.08.007.

Bibliography
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