[Physical training for neurological and mental diseases].
BACKGROUND
Physical activity has beneficial effects on somatic and mental health factors; therefore, regular exercise has preventive and therapeutic capabilities to improve neurological and mental dysfunction.


OBJECTIVE
In this overview of the current literature, the evidence of the effects of exercise on such disorders is summarized. Physical exercise interventions for stroke, Parkinson's disease, dementia, depression, psychoses, anxiety disorders, and chronic pain syndromes are considered in detail.


RESULTS
Physical activity reduces the risk of suffering from stroke, dementia and Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, it is negatively correlated with dysthymia and other depressive symptoms and various anxiety and pain disorders as well as headache syndromes. A therapeutic effect of systematic physical exercise was revealed for depression, some symptoms of psychosis and multiple sclerosis, addiction, eating disorders, the fibromyalgia syndrome as well as short-term interventions for anxiety disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
The concerted integration of physical exercise into prophylactic and therapeutic interventions can lower the burden of neurological and mental diseases; however, scientific evidence is still lacking concerning the optimal duration, type, and intensity as well as potential risks of physical exercise.
Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52072, Aachen, Deutschland, khenkel@ukaachen.de.
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Henkel
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Reimers
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Knapp
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Schneider
D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome