1Associate Professor, Department of Community Physiotherapy, KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy, Belagavi, India
2PG Student, Department of Pediatric Physiotherapy, KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy, Belagavi, India
*Corresponding Author: Snehal Dharmayat KLE Institute of Physiotherapy, Nehru nagar, Belagavi-590010, Email: snehdharma@gmail.com Contact No.-+919448305413
Online published on 26 September, 2019.
Mental health disorders pose an emotional, social, academic burden on the children as well as their parents and families. Non-pharmacological therapy has been proved to be useful in various studies by improving the mental status of the individual. Physical activity is a low risk and high benefit intervention that can be explored in the management for depression and anxiety.
A short-term physical activity programme was given to 70 children (27 males, 43 females) aged 12–16 years who fulfilled the criteria for anxiety and depression on 3 scales: SCARED, CES-DC and RCADS. The physical activity programme was given for 6 sessions over 2 weeks. Pre and post scores of the three scales were noted.
There was a 12.4% reduction in the scores of CES-DC, 13.35% on SCARED and 10% reduction in the scores of RCADS post-intervention.(p<0.05)
There was a significant reduction in the anxiety and depression levels after the physical activity program. Physical activity has a positive effect in reducing depression and anxiety in adolescents.
Adolescents, anxiety, depression, Physical activity
