The effect of a continual cycling exercise program on endurance time and body mass index in persons with residual type schizophrenia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a continual cycling exercise program on endurance and body mass index (BMI) in persons with residual type schizophrenia. Twenty-one inpatients (14 males and 7 females, 50.0±7.2 years of age, height of 161.4±9.4 cm, weight of 67.0±9.5 kg, duration of illness : 23.8±8.6 years) participated in this study. The subjects were prescribed a cycling exercise program, and endurance and weight were assessed at the beginning, as well as at six months, twelve months, and twenty-four months after starting the program. Endurance was measured by the sub-maximal bicycle exercise test, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated as body weight in kilograms/ (height in meters)2. The exercise program consisted of 30 to 45 minutes of cycling once or twice per week. As a result, eleven subjects (7 males and 4 females, 51.5±8.5 years of age : exercise group) underwent cycling exercise regularly for twenty-four months ; seven subjects (4 males and 3 females, 49.7±5.7 years of age: control group) dropped out within six months ; three subjects were discharged from the hospital and discontinued participation in the study. The exercise group showed an increase in endurance after six months and a significant increase after twenty-four months (p<0.05). Concerning BMI, the exercise group showed a tendency to decrease ; however the control group showed an increase in BMI after twenty-four months. These results suggest that long-term and continual regular exercise is important for inpatients with residual type schizophrenia to increase their endurance. This study's findings indicate that a cycling exercise program is effective for such patients.