Whether you are looking for the best physical fitness workout for your fitness level or just need a quick workout, there are a number of ways that you can incorporate wellness into your exercise routine. From mental wellness to physical wellness, there are a number of benefits to exercise that will make it the best choice for you.
Mental wellness
Increasingly, there is a focus on improving the mental health of adolescents. In the UK, young people are estimated to suffer from a mental health disorder at a rate of 14.4% every year.
Physical activity and mental wellbeing have been linked in many ways, but studies have been limited. For example, the study AHEAD trial looked at the relationship between physical activity and mental health. The results were promising. The study included 928 12-13 year olds in six secondary schools in England. The participants were assessed using accelerometers, and physical activity was measured on a daily basis.
The study also used a validated measure of mental wellbeing, the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. The scale contains 14 positive-worded items, which are scored on a five-point Likert scale. The scale was validated for use in adolescents aged 13 to 16 years.
However, the study did not find strong associations between physical activity and mental wellbeing. Instead, the study found that physical activity was associated with reduced symptoms of a mental health disorder.
Confidence and skills
During physical education classes, children develop their confidence and skills in a variety of physical activities. They learn to self-discipline and self-control, as well as positive people skills and leadership. Physical education also strengthens peer relationships and promotes self-esteem. In addition to teaching physical skills, physical education is a great laboratory for applying content in other subjects.
Primary physical education is usually delivered by generalist primary teachers. Typically, these teachers do not have specialized training or certification in physical education. They regularly provide classes for children of all ages, including children with special needs.
In order to develop students’ self-confidence, teachers must provide experiences in which all children can succeed. They must also encourage skill development in every child. This requires teachers to develop the skills of all children, as well as shed sex bias.
One way to measure confidence and skills associated with physical education is to use the Confidence and Motivation to Teach Primary Physical Education Questionnaire (CMTPPEQ). This is a two-part questionnaire, comprising of 52 items. The CMTPPEQ has been evaluated for conceptual integrity and reliability. It uses a six-point Likert Scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree). Its validity has been evaluated by undergraduate students.
Improved cognition and memory
Several studies have been conducted to test the efficacy of exercise in improving cognition and memory. Some studies have shown that exercise may increase cognitive performance, while others have shown no effect. In general, the effects of exercise are less clear-cut than those of medications. In particular, exercise may have a minor effect on reaction time in young people, whereas it appears to improve episodic memory in late adulthood. In addition, it appears that exercise may benefit cognitively challenged individuals, especially those with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
However, most of the studies that evaluated exercise-induced cognition did not measure a specific exercise, or they did not include the appropriate controls. These limitations increase the potential heterogeneity of the results. Thus, the results are not representative of the general population.
A review of the literature on exercise-induced cognition in humans has found that the effects of exercise may be mediated by increased blood flow to brain regions responsible for memory and cognition. In particular, increased physical activity may increase cerebral blood volume in the dentate gyrus, an area involved in learning and memory.
Boosted reading ability and academic performance
Boosted reading ability and academic performance associated with physical education has been proven to be a factor in a variety of observational studies. Evidence has also shown that physical fitness is associated with academic achievement, and it has been argued that increased aerobic fitness can be a mediating factor in improved academic performance.
The study looked at the effects of exercise on academic performance in first graders. The participants were divided into an experimental and a control group. The experimental group received an exercise program that consisted of three minute high-intensity interval exercise sessions twice a week for 10 weeks. The control group, on the other hand, participated in regular physical education classes. The results of the study showed that the students who were involved in the physical education program performed better on reading and math tests.
The findings of the study showed that the increased physical activity was associated with improved performance on standardized tests, and that physical fitness had the strongest relationship with mathematics achievement. It was also shown that physical education interventions were more effective in improving reading performance, and that enhanced cognition directly related to academic performance.