Mental Health and Exercise

Physical Activity in the Company

Other countries like Canada have researched this impact, concluding that the development of physical activity for a population level and particularly at companies’ level produces a return, translated into an improvement of the corporate image of the company, quality and volume of production profits, reduction of work absence, reduction in medical expenses and, in general terms a better quality of life.

In Chile, the relationship among a company, labor world and sports does not have a relevant place. Participation is not significative. Metal mechanic Industry’s cultural and sports corporation does not have more than a 9% participation out of 800 companies that represent this area. At the same time the Camara Chilena de la Construction sports corporation only gets to 15% out of the total of members in its companies, soccer being the activity practiced in 70% of the cases. (Bravo, Maggi).

Physical Activity and Zaldívar Minning Company

In Zaldivar Mining Company, according to results of total health program, there is a 59,6% sedentary nature, 63,9% overweight and obesity 55,9% addiction to tobacco, 35% hypercholesterolemy, all of them are among the modifiable risk factors of coronary illness: Addiction to Tobacco, Dislipidemy, Blood Pressure, Sedentary Nature, Obesity, Mellitus Diabetes.

In the analysis of a physical activity program for Zaldivar, it should also be considered the work regime of chronic intermittent exposure to an altitude of 3,200 meters, what gives it a special connotation, because it compels to set two control scenarios: sea level and altitude for the same population.

We know through literature that the maximum VO2 decreases around 10% with altitude per each 1,000 meters ascent from 1,500 meters, so at Minera Zaldivar’s altitude the maximum VO2 decreases in about 15%. Our experience has showed that in a recent research, in which maximum VO2 decreased in a 28% in a group of university sedentary nature students that ascended to an altitude of 3,600 meters, this group even had a lower performance when they returned to sea level after being 6 days in altitude. It is also implanted that there is an increase of oxidative stress for exposure to altitude and that this increases with exercise . (Simon, 1996).

It has been proved that oxidative stress at sea level is depending on exercise’s intensity, and that at 50% of the maximum VO2 there is an increase of lipidic peroxidation. (Leaf, 1997).

It seems reasonable that the recommendations of aerobic activities do not go initially over an intensity higher than 50% of the maximum VO2. Among the activities that achieve these premises are: Walk, Jogging, Bicycling, Swimming, when practiced for long periods and at a low or moderate intensity. There is also a new current tendency that implants the advantage of combining the hypoxic effect of remaining (sleeping) in altitude and training at sea level, with the purpose of improving the performance at sea level, which is capable of applying to the labor sports field, in sports like soccer.