Exercício físico e suas possíveis contribuições no tratamento do transtorno da ansiedade: uma pesquisa bibliográfica

Abstract

This study deals with physical exercise in the treatment of anxiety. It provides a definition of physical exercise, which is explained by Caspersen, Powell and Christenson (1985, p. 126) as a “planned, structured and repetitive physical activity that has as its purpose the improvement and maintenance of one or more components of physical fitness.” It discusses anxiety, which according to Leonard and Swedo (1995, p. 976), is “a vague and unpleasant feeling of fear, characterized by discomfort or tension derived from an anticipation of danger, of something unknown or strange”. He develops the concept of treatment as “the set of means (therapies) employed with the aim of eliminating a disease or providing the patient with palliative care” (DE REZENDE, 2010, p. 150). The aim of this study, based on the literature, is to highlight the possible benefits generated by physical exercise in the treatment of people with anxiety disorders. This is a qualitative, descriptive and bibliographical study. The results of this study show that low- or medium-intensity aerobic physical exercise can contribute to the treatment of people with anxiety disorders, provided that the individual has previously undergone a clinical health assessment and is monitored by a physical education professional.