Introduction: The health-related quality of life (HRQL) status for schizophrenia patients is low comparing to their healthy counterparts. Little is known about whether a progressive integrated physical activity intervention would have health-related physical fitness and healthrelated quality of life benefits in schizophrenia. Purposes: 1) to explore the impact of 8-week progressive functional fitness program on health-related physical fitness, and health-related quality of life in schizophrenias. Methods: 8-week progressive integrated exercise program, including aerobic dance movements, 9 major muscle group training, and well-rounded stretching exercise program was developed and was implemented for 7 patients with schizophrenia who were recruited from a chronic psychiatric center. Both Health-related physical fitness test and qualitative analyses were utilized. Health-related physical fitness measures included Body Mass Index (BMI), sit and reach, 1-min sit-up, and 1,600 meters walk). Repeated measured t-test was utilized for the data analysis. Semi-structured questionnaire was adapted to interview 7 patients; observation of administrator and the health care practitioners were taken in consideration. Responses to questions were coded and analyzed using grounded theory techniques to generate themes and categories in order to explore the effects on health-related quality of life after participating in 8-week progressive integrated exercise program. Results: 1) Both of the post-test scores of cardiovascular function and flexibility were significantly (p < .05) higher than those of the pre-test in patients with schizophrenias; 2) On the aspect of health-related quality-of-life, patients reported enhancement of the following major themes that emerged: problems of sleeplessness, constipation, physical activity, emotional health, interpersonal relationship, self-fulfillment and confidence. Conclusions: Progressive integrated exercise program enhances both of physical and mental functions in schizophrenia patients.
Introduction: The health-related quality of life (HRQL) status for schizophrenia patients is low comparing to their healthy counterparts. Little is known about whether a progressive integrated physical activity intervention would have health-related physical fitness and healthrelated quality of life benefits in schizophrenia. Purposes: 1) to explore the impact of 8-week progressive functional fitness program on health-related physical fitness, and health-related quality of life in schizophrenias. Methods: 8-week progressive integrated exercise program, including aerobic dance movements, 9 major muscle group training, and well-rounded stretching exercise program was developed and was implemented for 7 patients with schizophrenia who were recruited from a chronic psychiatric center. Both Health-related physical fitness test and qualitative analyses were utilized. Health-related physical fitness measures included Body Mass Index (BMI), sit and reach, 1-min sit-up, and 1,600 meters walk). Repeated measured t-test was utilized for the data analysis. Semi-structured questionnaire was adapted to interview 7 patients; observation of administrator and the health care practitioners were taken in consideration. Responses to questions were coded and analyzed using grounded theory techniques to generate themes and categories in order to explore the effects on health-related quality of life after participating in 8-week progressive integrated exercise program. Results: 1) Both of the post-test scores of cardiovascular function and flexibility were significantly (p < .05) higher than those of the pre-test in patients with schizophrenias; 2) On the aspect of health-related quality-of-life, patients reported enhancement of the following major themes that emerged: problems of sleeplessness, constipation, physical activity, emotional health, interpersonal relationship, self-fulfillment and confidence. Conclusions: Progressive integrated exercise program enhances both of physical and mental functions in schizophrenia patients.