Some Mental Issues Are Best Treated With Exercise
Physical activity can sometimes be more effective than medications in treating depression, anxiety, and distress, according to a group of medical researchers at the University of South Australia.
What to Know
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Physical activity is extremely beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress and works faster than medications.
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The greatest benefits from exercise occurred in people with depression, pregnant and postpartum women, healthy individuals, and people with HIV or kidney disease.
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For those with depression and anxiety, higher-intensity exercise with bursts of short and mid duration proved more beneficial than exercise of longer duration.
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All types of physical activity and exercise were beneficial, including aerobic exercise, such as walking, resistance training, Pilates, and yoga.
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Physical activity was found to be 1.5 times more effective than counseling or the leading medications in managing depression and is being recommended as a mainstay of treatment.
This is a summary of the article, “Effectiveness of Physical Activity Interventions for Improving Depression, Anxiety and Distress: An Overview of Systematic Reviews,” published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on February 24, 2023. The full article can be found on bjsm.bmj.com.
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