Scientific review: Exercise reduces symptoms of depression

Regular physical activity may alleviate depression symptoms as effectively as psychotherapy, according to a recent review. Researchers found similar benefits when comparing exercise to antidepressant medication, although the level of certainty in this evidence was lower, according to Science Daily. 

Depression is a major global health challenge, affecting more than 280 million people worldwide.

Exercise stands out as a low-cost, widely available option that improves physical health, making it attractive to both patients and healthcare workers.

A review that included 73 experiments

Researchers from the University of Lancashire conducted this analysis, based on data from 73 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 5,000 adults diagnosed with depression.

These studies have investigated the effects of exercise compared to no treatment or control groups, as well as comparing it to psychotherapy and antidepressant medications.

Overall, the results showed that exercise led to a slight reduction in depressive symptoms compared to receiving no treatment.

When compared to psychotherapy, exercise achieved similar improvement, based on moderate-confidence evidence from ten trials.

Comparisons with antidepressants have also suggested similar effects, but the supporting evidence has been limited and of low confidence. Few studies have followed participants after treatment ended, leaving the long-term effects unclear.

Safety and side effects

Reported side effects were rare. Participants in the exercise programs occasionally experienced muscle or joint injuries, while those taking antidepressants reported common medication-related problems such as fatigue and gastrointestinal disturbances.

According to Science Daily , Professor Andrew Clegg, the lead author of the study, said: “Our results suggest that exercise appears to be a safe and accessible option to help manage symptoms of depression. This shows that exercise is effective for some people, but not for everyone, and it is important to find exercise regimens that individuals want to commit to and can maintain.”

What are the most suitable exercises?

The study found that light to moderate physical activity may be more beneficial than strenuous exercise. Improvement in depressive symptoms was most strongly associated with completing between 13 and 36 exercise sessions.

No single type of exercise was clearly superior to another. However, programs combining different types of activity and resistance training appeared to be more effective than aerobic exercise alone.

Some activities, such as yoga, qigong, and stretching exercises, were not evaluated in this analysis and remain an area for future studies.

As with other findings, the long-term benefits remain uncertain due to the limited follow-up period.