Physical activity in water substantially improves the physical and mental health of people with severe mental disorders. This is clear from the two studies carried out by a research team from the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu with the support of Fluidra, the Fluida Foundation and the Obra…
Physical activity in water substantially improves the physical and mental health of people with severe mental disorders. This is clear from the two studies carried out by a research team from the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu with the support of Fluidra, the Fluida Foundation and the Obra Social Sant Joan de Déu. The studies have evaluated more than a hundred participants over two years. The global research, framed in the Thalassa project, concludes that the practice of physical activity in the aquatic environment is a effective tool for rehabilitative intervention for people with serious mental disorders because it favors the remission of symptoms and reduces the specific needs determined by the type of disorder. In addition to the two studies, the Thalassa project has made it possible to publish the first Intervention Guide to improve coordination in sports activities in public swimming pools and close a continuity proposal in collaboration with ten health institutions throughout Spain.
Differences according to gender and diagnosis
The study Benefits of physical activity in an aquatic environment in people with mental disorders concludes that both the practice of swimming and aquagym by people with a diagnosis of mental disorder significantly improves self-esteem, reduces the perception of social stigma, anxiety and depressive symptomsimproves the subjective perception of the general state of health, and positively influences an improvement in personal care and daily living tasks. At the same time, doing physical activity in a community sports center promotes the benefits derived from social relationships and participation in society.
Likewise, this study, which involved 87 people, has shown different benefits in men and women: in the case of men, their perception of social stigma decreases and social relationships and participation in society improve. And, in the case of women, the improvements focus on self-esteem and social relationships.
Depending on the diagnosis, the study has also shown that aquatic activity has specific benefits aimed at covering problems in different population groups. People with depressive disorder improve self-esteem and reduce the perception of self-stigma, and reduce difficulties in self-care and carrying out activities of daily living. People diagnosed with schizophrenia, on the other hand, improve more in their perception of their health status, social relationships, performance of daily tasks, and participation in society.
Dr. Susana Ochoa, researcher at the Research Unit of the Sant Joan de Déu Health Park, and coordinator of the study, concludes that “Aquatic activities generate improvements in many areas in people with mental health problems and, in the first results of the studies, significant differences are already identified according to gender and diagnosis.” Ochoa emphasizes that the starting point is different when it comes to a person affected by depression or psychosis, but in both cases, the results are encouraging because they point to clearly identifiable improvements aimed at covering the care needs of each group.
Aquagym and metacognitive training, keys in the treatment of psychosis
The study Efficacy of the combination of aquagym activity and metacognitive training (MCT) on psychological and physical health variables, and its relationship with the biomarkers SP1 and SP4 in people with psychosis has evaluated a total of 23 patients, distributed into three groups: those who have had psychological intervention (metacognitive training), those who have only practiced aquagym and those who have had access to a combination of the two interventions. In the end, according to Dr. Ochoa, the study shows that ““A combined intervention of aquagym activity and metacognitive training enhances the positive effects of improvements in different areas in the population with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders.”
Specifically, it reduces delusions and hallucinations and significantly improves motivation and engagement. Likewise, there is a decrease in depressive symptoms, an increase in awareness of the disorder, an improvement in cognitive functioning, adaptation abilities and social and personal interaction. All of this generates a perception of improved quality of life and self-esteem and a reduction in the perception of self-stigma. Furthermore, the study proves that this practice causes, in parallel, a significant increase in other physical activities such as walking. These benefits point to what could be a comprehensive treatment of the future for people with these diagnoses.
Intervention guide to improve coordination in sports activities in swimming pools
As a result of the Thalassa project, the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, with the collaboration of Fluidra, the Fluidra Foundation and the Sant Joan de Déu Social Work, has published the Intervention Guide to improve coordination in sports activities in swimming pools. This guide, which will initially be distributed in the health centers and sports facilities that are part of the project, includes recommendations for carrying out physical activity in an aquatic environment, ensuring that participants do safe and effective exercises and movements under the supervision of trained professionals. and makes the activity known in an educational way for the entire public, and promotes sports practice among people in vulnerable situations.
Currently, the activity is carried out in nine municipalities in the Barcelona area (Barcelona, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Viladecans, Esplugues de Llobregat, Cornellà de Llobregat, el Prat de Llobregat, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Cerdanyola del Vallès and Ripollet) and with the participation of twelve sports facilities (CEM Colom, CEM Can Ricard, CEM Espanya Industrial, CEM Parc del Garraf, CMES Esportiu La Piscina, CEM Atrium, CEM la Plana, Complex
Aquàtic i Esportiu Can Mercader, CEM Sagnier, CEM Pau Gasol, CEM Can Xarau, and Poliesportiu Municipal de Ripollet). A total of sixteen activity groups have been formed, of which seven are mixed (made up of users of the mental health care network along with other users of sports facilities).
In total, there are 435 participants in the activities, 357 of whom are people treated in the Mental Health Network, and 78 are users of the sports facilities. 59% of the people who participate are women. So far, both participants and managers have identified a variety of benefits in the activity.
The gender perspective and emotional well-being, lines of continuity
Taking into account the demonstrated benefits of physical activity in the aquatic environment in the population with mental health problems, the Thalassa project proposes a transversal continuity of research with the aim of creating a line of research focused on delving into the influence of gender when defining the benefits obtained. Additionally, the study will analyze which activities are most appropriate for each mental disorder and what benefits each population group obtains.
Thalassa has obtained a line of continuity through the Health Research Fund (FIS) of the Ministry of Health on the effectiveness of the combination of aquagym activity and metacognitive training among the population diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. With the commitment to offer an improvement in care to people with schizophrenia, the research team will carry out a second phase of the clinical trial initiated at the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu together with ten Spanish centers in the Spanish Metacognition Group network, where For more than fifteen years, research projects have been carried out to develop effective treatments for people with psychosis. The centers that have confirmed their participation are: the Parc Taulí University Hospital (Sabadell), the Marqués de Valdecillas University Hospital (Santander), the Les Corts Mental Hygiene Center (Barcelona), the Mataró Hospital, the Hospital del Mar ( Barcelona), the Jaén University Hospital, the San Carlos Clinical Hospital (Madrid), the Pere Mata Institut (Reus), the Son Llàtzer Hospital (Mallorca) and the Sant Joan de Déu Sanitari Park (Sant Boi).
Sant Joan de Déu: a health and social model
The Thalassa project is part of the commitment of the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu de apply research to care to improve the lives of those served from all areas, and is based on the recovery model mental health care and community approach, driving values of the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu.