Effects of a group physical activity program on physical fitness and quality of life in individuals with schizophrenia

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 16-week group physical activity (PA) program on physical fitness and quality of life in outpatients with schizophrenia. Methods: Nineteen outpatients with schizophrenia were divided into experimental (EG) (n = 8; mean age 39 7 years) and control (CG) (n = 11;. mean age 40 6 years) groups. The EG underwent twice a week sessions of a group PA program for a period of 16-week. The participants completed a battery of tests at baseline and after 16-week, which included the assessment of body composition (dual-energy Xray absorptiometry), functional exercise capacity (6MWT), physical activity levels (accelerometers), quality of life (WHOQOL-Brief), and anthropometric measures. During the program different strategies were implemented to ensure the participants' adherence. Results: The attendance to the program was 79.7%. In the EG a significant decrease was observed in hip circumference (p = 0.02); a significant increase occurred in moderate to vigorous physical activity (p = 0.05) and in the environment domain (WHOQOL-Brief) (p = 0.02). The improvement in environment domain scores was also associated with a decrease in sedentary behavior (r = 0.82, p = 0.01) in the EG. Conclusions: The strategies used during the program promoted a high rate of attendance. PA may have a positive impact on the participants' ability to perform activities of daily living. This study showed that a group PA program can be successfully implemented for outpatients with schizophrenia and can influence their quality of life and PA levels. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.