Community Quantifying Mental Health Benefits from Running with ASICS

Quantifying Mental Health Benefits from Running with ASICS

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A new initiative from ASICS running kicks off today called “Uplifting Minds,” a live study on the impact of movement on the brain. Aiming to reach one million participants, the first-ever live study features a free app for users to self-diagnose their cognitive states and report their findings. The idea is to encourage as many people around the world to get active as possible.

“As we all come to terms with a much-changed world in the wake of the pandemic, the uplifting power of sport is a constant that endures. That’s why our sole ambition is to empower as many people as possible to experience the physical and mental benefits of movement,” said Yasuhito Hirota, the President & COO of ASICS. “By taking part in any number of our different events and activities running across the year, you’ll contribute to vital research to help us further understand the uplifting effect of sport. That way we can continue finding new ways to highlight and unlock the benefits for everyone in 2022 and beyond.”

The press conference held yesterday announcing the initiative featured Dr. Brendon Stubbs, a leading exercise and mental health researcher based at King’s College London, and Deena Kastor, perhaps America’s most highly touted distance runner. Kastor is always an inspiration.

“I want to inspire as many people as possible to reap the cognitive and emotional benefits of our sport. I think, as runners, we all want to make the world a better place through the great sport of long-distance running.”

Most of us know instinctively the benefits of running. But it’s always fascinating to see the benefits quantified. For instance, a preliminary study from ASICS used a combination of EEG and self-report data collection to prove the positive impact of running on the mind across a number of core cognitive and emotional metrics – including contentment (14.4% average increase immediately after exercise), energy (9.7%) and relaxation (13.3%).

To take part in this groundbreaking study, join us in following these seven easy steps.

  1. GO to minduplifter.asics.com to capture your Mind Uplift.
  2. SCAN your face to read your emotional state.
  3. ANSWER scientifically developed questions to gauge your brain function.
  4. COMPLETE at least 20 minutes of exercise to uplift your mind.
  5. REPEAT steps two and three.
  6. GET your Mind Uplift results and SHARE them on your social channels.
  7. SEE how your results contribute to the World Uplift Map (from July 1).

Register for the free World Uplifting Minds 5K/10K Run here