What Is the Evidence That Physical Activity Improves Mental Health in People With Disabilities?
Type 1 evidence indicates that exercise can reduce depression in people with Alzheimer’s disease and Mental Illness. Type 2a evidence shows the same result in persons with Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, and Intellectual Disability, as does type 4 evidence in the remaining subgroups. The highest level of evidence was reported in people with Mental Illness (6 RCTs reporting significant outcomes). Physical activity also appears to have beneficial effects on several other mental health outcomes including self-esteem, quality of sleep, interpersonal relationships, disruptive behavior, negative symptoms, and anxiety. No type 1 studies were identified for any of these outcomes. However, type 2a evidence was reported for beneficial effects of self-esteem (Muscular Dystrophy, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Intellectual Disability), quality of sleep (Spinal Cord Injury and Alzheimer’s disease), interpersonal relationships (Stroke and Mental Illness), and negative symptoms (Mental I
