As the world faces the risk of a mental health pandemic, ASICS has announced its ‘renewed commitment to use the power of sport to uplift the world.’ In 2021 and beyond, the company adds that it will ‘support more people to experience the transformative power of sport, not just on the body but on the mind.’
ASICS is an acronym of the Latin phrase ‘Anima Sana In Corpore Sano’ or a ‘Sound Mind in a Sound Body’.
‘In 2021, ASICS will undertake a landmark research project into the positive impact of sport on mental wellbeing. It will use cutting-edge biometric technology to capture the true impact of sport on the minds of thousands of participants around the world.’
Ahead of the research project’s full roll-out, ASICS has also conducted an initial feasibility study involving a group of elite athletes – including British Olympic runner and European Triathlon Champion Beth Potter – alongside everyday athletes as a basis for comparison.
Moving minds measured
Overseen by Dr Brendon Stubbs, a leading exercise and mental health researcher based at King’s College, London, the study measured a series of brain pathways known to influence the emotional and cognitive elements of mental wellbeing.
It found that after a short amount of physical activity, the everyday athletes experienced an overall emotional uplift, including up to a 29% improvement in their ability to cope with stress and up to an 18% increase in their relaxation levels.
They also reported a significant drop in negative emotions like frustration (up to 135%) and were up to 28% less prone to making rash decisions and reacting negatively to challenges or disruption.
When it comes to the brain pathways associated with cognitive performance, the everyday athletes again demonstrated a notable uplift after a brief amount of sport. This included up to a 26% increase in brain processing speed, up to a 21% improvement in memory and as much as a 58% reduction in their levels of cognitive stress, some of the symptoms of which are anxiety, forgetfulness and disorganisation.
Interestingly, both the emotional and cognitive uplifts were greater among the everyday athletes than among the elite ones.
‘Following this initial feasibility study, ASICS is continuing to conduct the experiment with both everyday and elite athletes. The findings of this research project will be used to develop future innovations that unlock the mental benefits of sport and exercise for athletes of all levels.’
ASICS is also partnering with mental health charity, Mind to help fund support services, including physical activity-based projects, for people experiencing mental health problems. As COVID-19 continues to put more strain on the mental wellbeing of millions of people, ASICS adds that it is committed to taking action and shining a light on physical activity’s ability to improve mental health.
The partnership kicks-off in January 2021 with a #SunriseMind campaign to get people moving and to raise funds for Mind. Using sunrise as a symbol of hope, ASICS will be coming together with its athletes – including Eilish McColgan, Noëlle Roorda and Kiryu Yoshihide – to ‘issue an open invitation to people around the world to join their mission to uplift the world.’
ASICS is encouraging everyone who can, to move at sunrise and capture the positive impact of movement on their mind with a sunrise selfie. ASICS will make a donation to Mind for every #SunriseMind selfie shared.
Through the partnership, ASICS will raise awareness about the benefits of physical activity to mental health and raise funds through campaigns and events. Donations will be used to fund Mind’s research into mental health in sport and to fund support services for people experiencing mental health problems.
Leading exercise & mental health researcher Dr Brendon Stubbs, said “It is impossible to overstate just how significant the impact sport and exercise have on our mind. It’s absolutely vital that people regularly move their body to experience those all-important cognitive and emotional benefits for themselves.
“Never has there been a more important time to become active and experience the mental health benefits sport and movement bring.”
Gary Raucher, EVP Categories at ASICS EMEA said, “We know COVID-19 has put even more pressure on the wellbeing of millions of people. We also know and believe that sport and movement can lift spirits and help people feel better.
“For us, 2021 is about unlocking the unique power of sport to uplift our minds. That starts with encouraging people everywhere to move with us at sunrise and will continue throughout the year as we demonstrate our commitments to our founding philosophy of a sound mind, sound body.”
