The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of mood state before and after 20 consecutive karate sparring matches. All subjects were black belts. Before 20 sparring matches, the mean T score values were higher than the athletes' standard value in 5 parameters, while the mean value of vigor was lower than the standard value. The mean T score values of three parameters (tension, depression and confusion) showed significant decrease in 1, 12 and 24 hours after 20 sparring matches.

Vigor, however, was lower than the athletes' standard value 12 and 24 hours after the matches. Vigor was decreased after 20 sparring matches and recovered was slowly. These results suggest that 20 sparring matches many induce overtraining syndrome.

It has been suggested that a number of people who face the unbearable stress is tremendously increasing in Japan. Furthermore, depressed mood among people has often been reported by mass media in Japan. Meanwhile, several researches suggested that physical exercise may improve mental health status. Notwithstanding recent intensive research, the underlying psychological mechanism of exercise in humans remains incomplete. The present study investigated the acute psychological effect of the balance ball exercise using the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Five healthy young males (19.2 ± 0.4 yrs, height 172.8 ± 6.4 cm ; body mass 68.2 ± 8.8 kg, mean ± S.D.) volunteered to participate in this study. The study protocol was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. All subjects received an explanation of the nature and purpose of the study. None of the subjects was clinically diagnosed with physical and mental disorders. All subjects were examined on two separate occasions : beginning and the end of the balance ball exercise intervention. On the day of testing, the subjects came to the laboratory at 15:00 p.m. The room was temperature controlled at 25°C, quiet, and comfortable, with a minimization of arousal stimuli. The POMS was administered to ask the participants how they are feeling “right now”. The POMS is a globally standardized self-administered questionnaire. The level of current mood can be evaluated. The present study employed the Japanese version of POMS, consisting of 65 items designed to sample current mood. The POMS scores for each of six mood dimensions: tension-anxiety, anger-hostility, depression-dejection, vigor-activity, fatigue-inertia, and confusion-bewilderment. Level of agreement to each of the 65 items is indicated by response to a five-point scale (‘not at all’ through ‘extremely’). Paired t-test was performed to assess statistical differences of the POMS between the beginning and the end of the exercise and resting condition or control. Our data indicated that the balance ball exercise intervention showed a significant decrease in the POMS ; vigor-activity (60.0 ± 11.5 vs. 52.0 ± 7.7, p＝0.045). Several theories have been proposed to explain the underlying mechanisms of physical exercise with its complex web of bio-psycho-social factors. Although causes and consequences continue to be unexplained, our data, however, indicate that improved psychological effect through the balance ball exercise was evident in healthy young males. This study further implies a possibility of improving psychological health and ultimately, quality of life by using the balance ball exercise.

In this study, we examined how the sports program in day-care affects the mental condition of the patients.

In the 1st study, we compared the control group (participation in sports: 21 patients) with the non-control group (non-participation in sports : 8 patients) using the Japanese edition GHQ30. As a result, the control group was in better condition for Sleep Disturbance, Anxiety and Dysphoria, Suicidal depression and Total score than the non-control group.

In the 2nd study, we examined the effect of continuing to participate in the sports program for a month and compared the control group with the non-control group using the GHQ30. As a result, Anxiety and Dysphoria of the control group were improved from last month.

In conclusion, it became clear that it is useful to adapt the sports program for the day-care.

We investigated to what extent participation in sporting activities, especially a competitive sport, would improve QOL and self-esteem in mentally handicapped individuals. We conducted a comparative study and a survey of attitude to sporting activities using the WHO-QOL26 and self-esteem scale in 50 mentally handicapped individuals who participate in the sports club managed by our clinic (exercise group) and who visit our hospital's day care facility (non-exercise group). The WHO-QOL26 showed significant differences in physical domain (t(48) =4.74, p<.01), mental domain (t(48) =2.50, p<.05), and mean QOL (t(48) =3.28, p<.01). All QOL scores were higher in the exercise group. The self-respect scale also showed significant differences, suggesting higher self-esteem in the exercise group than in the non-exercise group. It was also found that all subjects in the exercise group hoped to continue their sporting.