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Torlak MS, Unuvar BS, Gercek H. Effect of Aerobic Exercise on the Levels of Pain, Quality of Life, and Alexithymia in Alexithymic Individuals With Chronic Pain: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2022; 45:652-659. [PMID: 37294216 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2023.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on pain, degree of alexithymia, and quality of life in individuals with alexithymia and chronic pain. METHODS A total of 40 participants who scored 61 or higher on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) were included in the study. The sample was subdivided into 2 groups using a computerized randomization program: an aerobic exercise group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). Participants in the aerobic exercise group underwent a 30-minute jogging protocol at 60% to 90% of maximum heart rate 3 days per week for 8 weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Participants in the control group continued their daily physical activities. Outcome measures were the TAS-20, visual analog scale, Graded Chronic Pain Scale, and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference between the demographics of the 2 groups (P > .05). There was a statistically significant improvement in TAS-20, Graded Chronic Pain Scale, visual analog scale, and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey scores of the participants in the aerobic exercise group compared to the control group (P ˂ .05). CONCLUSION Aerobic exercise had a positive effect on pain, quality of life, and degree of alexithymia in individuals with alexithymia and chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Savas Torlak
- Vocational School of Health Services, Department of Physical Therapy, KTO Karatay University, Karatay, Konya, Turkey.
| | - Bayram Sonmez Unuvar
- Vocational School of Health Services, Department of Physical Therapy, KTO Karatay University, Karatay, Konya, Turkey
| | - Hasan Gercek
- Vocational School of Health Services, Department of Physical Therapy, KTO Karatay University, Karatay, Konya, Turkey
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Passarello N, Varini L, Liparoti M, Troisi Lopez E, Sorrentino P, Alivernini F, Gigliotta O, Lucidi F, Mandolesi L. Boosting effect of regular sport practice in young adults: Preliminary results on cognitive and emotional abilities. Front Psychol 2022; 13:957281. [PMID: 36248595 PMCID: PMC9555280 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.957281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have shown that physical exercise (PE) improves behavior and cognitive functioning, reducing the risk of various neurological diseases, protecting the brain from the detrimental effects of aging, facilitating body recovery after injuries, and enhancing self-efficacy and self-esteem. Emotion processing and regulation abilities are also widely acknowledged to be key to success in sports. In this study, we aim to prove that regular participation in sports enhances cognitive and emotional functioning in healthy individuals. A sample of 60 students (mean age = 22.12; SD = 2.40; M = 30), divided into sportive and sedentary, were subjected to a neuropsychological tests battery to assess their overall cognitive abilities (Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices, APM), verbal and graphic fluency (Word Fluency Task and modified Five Point Test, m-FPT), as well as their emotional awareness skills (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS-20). Our results showed that sportive students performed better than sedentary ones in all cognitive tasks. Regarding emotional processing abilities, significant differences were found in the TAS-20 total score as well as in the Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF) subscale and the Difficulty Identifying Feeling (DIF) subscale. Lastly, gender differences were found in the External-Oriented Thinking (EOT) subscale. Overall, our findings evidence that PE has positive effects on cognitive functioning and emotion regulation, suggesting how sports practice can promote mental health and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemi Passarello
- Department of Humanities, “Federico II” University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Ludovica Varini
- Department of Humanities, “Federico II” University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Marianna Liparoti
- Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Emahnuel Troisi Lopez
- Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Naples, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Sorrentino
- Institut de Neuroscience des Systemès, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Fabio Alivernini
- Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Onofrio Gigliotta
- Department of Humanities, “Federico II” University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Fabio Lucidi
- Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Mandolesi
- Department of Humanities, “Federico II” University of Naples, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Laura Mandolesi
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Proença Lopes C, Allado E, Essadek A, Poussel M, Henry A, Albuisson E, Hamroun A, Chenuel B. Occurrence of Alexithymia and Its Association with Sports Practice from a Sample of University Students: Results from a French Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10050788. [PMID: 35627924 PMCID: PMC9141175 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10050788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of alexithymia in a sample of university students and to determine its association with specific sports practice characteristics (competition and training). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, anthropometric data and characteristics of sport practice were collected, as well as level of alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, (TAS-20)). Results: The study included 253 French university students who completed a questionnaire specifying their regular sports practice and level of alexithymia (TAS-20). We found 76 subjects (30%) who had proven alexithymia and 92 (36.4%) who were borderline alexithymic. A significant positive relationship between alexithymia and the weekly amount of training practice was observed. It should be noted that students who engage in more than 5 h of physical activity are more prone to be borderline or alexithymic (respectively, 19.6 and 19.7% versus 7.1% for non-alexithymics; p = 0.03). Conclusion: With a 30% frequency, alexithymia is more prevalent in this context than in the general population. Furthermore, alexithymia and borderline alexithymia are most favorably associated with higher physical activity (over 5 h per week).
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Proença Lopes
- Development, Adaptation and Disadvantage, Cardiorespiratory Regulations and Motor Control (EA 3450 DevAH), University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France; (E.A.); (M.P.); (B.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-6-12-21-87-42
| | - Edem Allado
- Development, Adaptation and Disadvantage, Cardiorespiratory Regulations and Motor Control (EA 3450 DevAH), University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France; (E.A.); (M.P.); (B.C.)
- Center of Sports Medicine and Adapted Physical Activity, CHRU-Nancy, University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France
| | - Aziz Essadek
- INTERPSY (EA 4432), University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France;
| | - Mathias Poussel
- Development, Adaptation and Disadvantage, Cardiorespiratory Regulations and Motor Control (EA 3450 DevAH), University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France; (E.A.); (M.P.); (B.C.)
- Center of Sports Medicine and Adapted Physical Activity, CHRU-Nancy, University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France
| | - Audrey Henry
- Cognition, Health and Society Laboratory, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51571 Reims, France;
| | - Eliane Albuisson
- Institut Elie-Cartan de Lorraine, CNRS, Université de Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France;
| | - Aghilès Hamroun
- Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Economics and Prevention, Regional and University Hospital Center of Lille, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France;
| | - Bruno Chenuel
- Development, Adaptation and Disadvantage, Cardiorespiratory Regulations and Motor Control (EA 3450 DevAH), University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France; (E.A.); (M.P.); (B.C.)
- Center of Sports Medicine and Adapted Physical Activity, CHRU-Nancy, University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France
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