Mental health is the state of well-being in which one realizes their potential. This includes coping
with normal stress, working productively, and being able to contribute to the community. A
healthy body equates to a healthy mind. The medical event that affects your physical health
takes a toll on your mental health as well. During this situation, you think about your illness, the
treatment or surgery you need to undergo, concerns about family and career, cost, and pain that
can lead to stress, depression, and other mental health concerns. The body and mind are
interconnected among many networks of communication, so it is essential to give attention to
the body as a whole.
It is important to put both the body and mind at ease during the recovery. Doing physical
activities vigorously has a positive impact on mental health. In a 2021 study, aerobic and
resistance exercises contributed massively to the treatment of patients with depression and
anxiety. This is where the key role of the physical therapist comes in. They provide a bridge to
connect the physical and mental health of patients by promoting physical activity.
Physical therapy is proven an effective method in addressing mental health concerns and
helping you gain the right mindset. Physical therapy encourages you to do physical activities as
an approach to treatment. Continuous performing of physical activities increases the level of the
neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin influences memory, learning, and mood. Lack of enough
serotonin plays a role in developing depression, anxiety, and other health condition. Repeated
simple physical exercises help boost one’s self-esteem. It can provide the feeling of fulfillment
and acceptance of new limitations. Sleep also plays an important role in mental health. Without
proper sleep, stress and anxiety increase because the brain does not have enough time to
recharge. Doing physical activity can help the body fall asleep faster and deeper.
Physical therapists can reduce the feeling of isolation from someone with medical concerns.
Having someone they can talk to and who cares about you and your health is reassuring. They
help you set a physical therapy goal that aims to regain your sense of control, which contributes
to reducing your anxiety. Physiotherapists in mental health provide health promotion, preventive
health care, treatment, and rehabilitation for individuals.
Mind and body should be treated as one. What affects the body, affects the mind. Being aware
of the topic of mental health has opened a lot of doors for the improvement of the treatment
available to mediate it, such as physical therapy. More studies will emerge to support the
positive response of physical therapy in prioritizing mental health as we keep exploring its
possibilities.
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