No treatment or intervention is a perfect solution, so we have to set expectations, says Dr. ![]() “Keep in mind, all three (meds, therapy, physical activity) likely work on different mechanisms and so the combination can be very complementary.” Marci believes the consistency of the findings in this study is comparable to any review of medication or psychotherapy interventions. “I would include exercise in the routine of every patient with anxiety, but I would not be discouraged if exercise alone left a gap that still needed to be treated.”ĭr. If we had a single nerve transmitter problem leading to all anxiety, then we would need just one drug class.” However, brain chemistry is not so simple, he notes. We have many drug classes available to medicate mental health, says Dr. “The challenge is, brains are really hard to predict.” The answer is not one size fits all, and no one should stop any medication prior to speaking with a healthcare professional. ” Can exercise replace medications for mental health disorders? All of these things are likely to contribute. “For some, there may be a social aspect to going to a gym or just getting out of the house. Then there are the psychological benefits of taking action and having a sense of accomplishment, Dr. “These include direct physiological factors including reduced heart rate from increased vagal tone and the release of BDNF,, both of which are good for brain health.” It’s important to keep in mind that this study did not look at the actual mechanisms of action of physical activity on mental health, but most scientists agree there are likely multiple factors that contribute to the impact of pa on mental health and well-being, says Carl Marci, M.D., physician, neuroscientist, and author of Rewired: Protecting Your Brain in the Digital Age. For those seeking pain relief and, by extension, depression relief, they will need to work hard to very hard to get natural endorphins released.” “For those who aren’t engaged at all, doing something often refocuses some of their energy. How does exercise improve mental health?Īmong other things, exercise improves resilience, reduces anxiety and stress, and reduces the perception of pain, which is a major contributor to depressed mood for many, explains Amit Sachdev, M.D., director of the Division of Neuromuscular Medicine at Michigan State University.Īny attempt to exercise usually helps with our mental well-being, says Dr. This study also highlighted the fact that all movement is good movement-that all types of physical activity and exercise were beneficial, including aerobic exercises such as walking, resistance training, Pilates, and yoga. “Our review shows that physical activity interventions can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in all clinical populations, with some groups showing even greater signs of improvement.” Yet despite the evidence, it has not been widely adopted as a first-choice treatment, said Ben Singh, M.D., lead researcher, in a press release. Physical activity is known to help improve mental health. Higher intensity physical activity was associated with greater improvements in symptoms, likewise with shorter bursts of activity versus longer durations. The largest benefits were seen in people with depression, HIV and kidney disease, in pregnant and postpartum women, and in healthy individuals. ![]() The results also showed that introducing periods of exercise that were 12 weeks or shorter was the most effective at reducing mental health symptoms, highlighting the speed at which physical activity can make a change. ![]() ![]() Specifically, they found that physical activity is 1.5 times more effective than counseling or the leading medications (important note: the study did not indicate what medications were included in the analysis). The researchers found that physical activity significantly improved symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress. The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, encompassed 97 different analyses over 1,039 trials, involving 128,119 participants, making it the most comprehensive review to date. Now, there’s evidence suggesting that exercise may be more effective than medication at managing mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. Speak with your doctor before making any medication decisions.Įxercise plays a key role in our health, and studies have shown that being active can boost your memory, lower your risk of future hospitalization, and even lower your risk of cancer. Experts do not, however, recommend stopping medications.The results highlighted that even small amounts of physical activity can make a positive impact on mental health.New research shows that exercise may be even more effective than medications when it comes to treating mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.
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