Psychosomatic Medicine Tips for Better Browsing
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Desharnais, R.
Right arrow Articles by Godin, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Desharnais, R.
Right arrow Articles by Godin, G.

Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol 55, Issue 2 149-154, Copyright © 1993 by American Psychosomatic Society

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Aerobic exercise and the placebo effect: a controlled study

R Desharnais, J Jobin, C Cote, L Levesque and G Godin
Laboratoire des sciences de l'activite physique, Hopital Laval, Quebec, Canada.

An experiment was conducted with 48 healthy young adults engaged in a supervised 10-week exercise program to determine whether a placebo effect is involved within the exercise-psychological enhancement connection. Based on an expectancy modification procedure, one-half of the subjects were led to believe that their program was specifically designed to improve psychological well-being (experimental condition) whereas no such intervention was made with the second half (control condition). Expectations for psychological benefits and aerobic capacity (VO2max) were measured before and after completion of the program. Self-esteem, as the indicator of psychological well-being, was measured on four specific occasions: at the beginning, after the fourth and seventh weeks, and upon completion of the training program. The results showed similar significant increases in fitness levels in both conditions. Moreover, self-esteem was significantly improved over time in the experimental but not in the control condition. These findings provide evidence to support the notion that exercise may enhance psychological well-being via a strong placebo effect. Implications of the results with regard to exercise prescription are discussed.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINEHome page
L. Terre
Exercise for Primary Care
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, July 1, 2008; 2(4): 290 - 292.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 ptjournalHome page
A. Rampello, M. Franceschini, M. Piepoli, R. Antenucci, G. Lenti, D. Olivieri, and A. Chetta
Effect of Aerobic Training on Walking Capacity and Maximal Exercise Tolerance in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Crossover Controlled Study
Physical Therapy, May 1, 2007; 87(5): 545 - 555.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeurologyHome page
B. S. Oken, S. Kishiyama, D. Zajdel, D. Bourdette, J. Carlsen, M. Haas, C. Hugos, D. F. Kraemer, J. Lawrence, and M. Mass
Randomized controlled trial of yoga and exercise in multiple sclerosis
Neurology, June 8, 2004; 62(11): 2058 - 2064.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ANN INTERN MEDHome page
D. E. Moerman and W. B. Jonas
Deconstructing the Placebo Effect and Finding the Meaning Response
Ann Intern Med, March 19, 2002; 136(6): 471 - 476.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1993 by the American Psychosomatic Society