Aerobic exercise improves gastrointestinal motility in psychiatric inpatients

Table 1 Psychiatric disorder† distribution of the study participants n (%)

Psychiatric disorder	Exercise group	Control group	P value1
Schizophrenia	16 (69.6)	12 (63.2)	0.661
Depression	5 (21.7)	4 (21.1)	0.957
Bipolar disorder	2 (8.7)	3 (15.8)	0.480
Total	23 (100)	19 (100)

¹According to the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria.

Table 2 Effects of a 12-wk aerobic exercise program on the weight- and cardiovascular-related parameters in psychiatric inpatients

Parameter	Exercise group (n = 23)		Control group (n = 19)		P value1
	Baseline	Study-end	Baseline	Study-end
Body weight, kg	69.4 ± 2.8	67.6 ± 2.7	68.8 ± 4.0	68.8 ± 3.9	0.706
BMI, kg/m2	25.2 ± 1.1	24.9 ± 0.8	24.3 ± 1.1	24.4 ± 1.2	0.759
Lean body mass, kg	46.8 ± 1.5	48.7 ± 1.4	44.7 ± 1.4	46.8 ± 2.0	0.909
Body fat, %	30.8 ± 2.4	27.9 ± 2.0	33.3 ± 2.8	30.8 ± 2.5	0.830
SBP, mmHg	116.5 ± 3.9	113.5 ± 3.9	126.0 ± 4.7	110.8 ± 5.4	0.016a
DBP, mmHg	77.8 ± 2.5	71.9 ± 2.1	87.1 ± 4.2	76.9 ± 3.6	0.251
Resting heart rate, bpm	86.4 ± 3.8	79.8 ± 2.8	87.4 ± 2.8	80.5 ± 2.3	0.894
Thigh circumference, cm	41.4 ± 1.4	49.6 ± 2.9	44.0 ± 1.6	46.3 ± 2.3	0.074
Waist circumference, cm	88.3 ± 2.9	85.5 ± 2.4	91.8 ± 3.5	90.5 ± 4.0	0.675

Data are presented as mean ± SE.

¹P values for baseline to study-end change for the exercise group vs the control group. Statistically significant difference (^aP < 0.05). BMI: Body mass index; DBP: Diastolic blood pressure; SBP: Systolic blood pressure; bpm: Beats per minute.

Table 3 Effects of a 12-wk aerobic exercise program on the fitness-related parameters in psychiatric inpatients

Parameter	Exercise group (n = 23)		Control group (n = 19)		P value1
	Baseline	Study-end	Baseline	Study-end
Grip strength, kg	26.3 ± 2.3	27.7 ± 2.2	29.4 ± 3.0	29.4 ± 2.2	0.343
Leg strength, kg	41.7 ± 4.3	64.1 ± 5.0	42.5 ± 4.3	43.8 ± 1.5	0.005a
YMCA bench step test, BPM	120.5 ± 4.5	105.4 ± 2.8	120.3 ± 4.7	119.6 ± 3.3	0.048a
Jump, cm	21.5 ± 2.6	30.6 ± 2.8	21.5 ± 3.3	24.3 ± 3.2	0.015a
Reach, cm	6.5 ± 2.3	8.2 ± 2.1	2.9 ± 2.4	5.4 ± 2.3	0.679

Data are presented as mean ± SE.

¹P values for baseline to study-end change for the exercise group vs the control group. Statistically significant difference (^aP < 0.05). BPM: Beats per minute.