EFFECT OF AEROBIC EXERCISE ON STRESS AND THE BRAIN-GUT AXIS

Authors : Harun Dere, Merve Bayraktar, Ali Veysel Özden

Pages : 71-78

View : 72 | Download : 43

Publication Date : 2023-06-29

Article Type : Research Article

Abstract :Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on stress and brain-gut axis in individuals. Materials and Methods: Twenty adult individuals who did not exercise regularly before, were 18 years of age and older, had no barriers to aerobic exercise, actively used e-mail addresses and agreed to participate in the study voluntarily participated in the study. The participants were given an aerobic exercise program (exercises such as light-moderate walking, cycling and swimming in the open air), 3 days a week, for a total of 5 hours, without being divided into any groups. Individuals were asked to fill in a 10-item perceived stress scale and a brain-gut axis inquiry form, which included 46 questions, after performing aerobic exercise before and at the end of aerobic exercise. The data obtained were evaluated in the SPSS version 26.0 package program. Results: A significant difference was found between the pre-test and post-test results in terms of the perceived stress and the effects on the brain-gut axis of individuals performing aerobic exercise. While the decrease in the stress subunit of the brain-gut axis questionnaire form was 7.23%, the decrease in the stress perception scale was 22.73%. Conclusion: As a result of the study, it can be suggested that aerobic exercises can reduce the perception of stress in individuals and has the potential to affect the brain-gut axis. The stress subunit of the brain-gut axis also decreased, albeit less in percentage. It can be said that 1 week of aerobic exercise affects the perception of stress more than the brain-gut axis.
Keywords : Aerobic exercise, stress, brain-gut axis