The feasibility of resistance training versus aerobic exercise in a rehabilitation setting for people living with psychotic disorders: A randomised controlled trial
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: People with psychotic disorders face significant functional impairments, high levels of disability, multimorbidity and physical health challenges. Despite unique health benefits, resistance training remains underexplored in this population and rarely implemented in real-world mental health settings. METHODS: This randomised controlled trial comparing resistance training with aerobic interval training in people with psychotic disorders accessing psychiatric rehabilitation. Supervised exercise sessions by exercise physiologists were conducted 3 times per week over 8 weeks. Primary outcomes were feasibility, acceptability and adverse events. Secondary outcomes were psychiatric symptoms, global and physical functioning and the effect of randomisation to exercise type on participation rates. RESULTS: In total, 54 participants (median age 31 years, 71.6% male, 75% diagnosed with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, 55.5% with ⩾3 health conditions) were enrolled. Resistance training met predetermined feasibility and acceptability thresholds and showed comparable results to aerobic interval training with no significant exercise-related adverse events. Within-group analysis revealed significant increases in muscle strength following resistance training. Post-intervention, resistance training participants reported more total weekly minutes of physical activity compared to aerobic interval training, though no other significant between-group differences were observed. Randomisation to exercise type did not influence participation. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, resistance training was feasible and acceptable to people with psychotic disorders, with no serious adverse events and comparable to aerobic interval training. Resistance training was successfully implemented in rehabilitation settings with promising improvements in muscle strength and self-reported physical activity. In future, larger longer-term trials comparing resistance training with aerobic interval training, and in comparison with other psychosocial therapies are warranted. Further exploration of participant preference for exercise type on outcomes is recommended.
Authors: Nicole Korman, Robert Stanton, Mike Trott, Brendon Stubbs, Andrea Baker, Cassandra Butler, Dan Siskind, Simon Rosenbaum, Joseph Firth, Rebecca Martland, Talia McIntosh, Nicola Warren, Edward Heffernan, Frances Dark, Justin Chapman
Institutions: The University of Queensland, Metro South Health, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Addiction and Mental Health Services - MSH, Central Queensland University, King's College London, University of the Sunshine Coast, UNSW Sydney, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Queensland Health, Griffith University
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,400
OpenAlex ID: W4416134669