Date
2-7-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)
Chair
Stacey Lilley
Keywords
PTSD, physical activity, bilateral movement, yoga, trauma recovery
Disciplines
Counseling | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Cicalo, Noah J., "The Effectiveness of Various Forms of Physical Exercise on the Trauma Recovery Process: A Quantitative Study" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6468.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6468
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to further the knowledge base on available trauma recovery processes. The extent to which trauma is experienced in the United States as well as the long-term effects of trauma are becoming increasingly apparent within the mental health community. Identifying and providing care that addresses trauma is therefore paramount. Previous research annotates that physical exercise of various types has positively impacted the relationship between experienced trauma and trauma recovery. This study further explores this relationship, and considers physical activities that are specifically bilateral in nature due to the overlap of such activities with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The analysis conducted for this study includes a moderation model of various forms of physical activity on the relationship between experienced trauma and trauma recovery. The results of this study annotate that vigorous physical activity and yoga both have a statistically significant impact on this relationship. This study includes a background of the experienced trauma problem, a literature review of evidence-based practices addressing trauma and related disorders, how the study was conducted, the results of the study, as well as a discussion about the study’s findings, limitations, implications for counseling and counselor education and supervision, as well as future research considerations.
