The more vigorous the activity, the greater the benefits for those suffering from the disease.
It has already been proven that regular physical activity is useful in the treatment of mental illnesses. The news is that, in the specific case of depression, there are exercises that work more effectively. They are: dance, running, HIIT and strength training.
The study, recently published in the scientific journal The BMJ, shows that these are the best activities for treating depression. According to the newspaper O Globo, these exercises can have a beneficial effect on their own, or by acting in a supportive way, with treatments such as psychotherapy and drugs.
What does the WHO say about depression?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression affects more than 300 million people worldwide. In this way the exercise already presented is a strong ally. Now, in this study, Australian researchers analyzed more than 200 surveys with nearly 15,000 participants to determine how different types of exercise benefit mental health.
Dance has promoted significant improvements in the lives of patients suffering from depression. There were, however, moderate reductions for those who walked or ran, practiced yoga, strength training and mixed aerobic exercises. Both men and women benefited from running and walking. However, strength training was found to be more effective for women. Yoga or qigong was more effective for men.
Overall, the study showed that patient benefits were greatest for those who engaged in vigorous exercise, such as running and interval training.
“Our findings support the inclusion of exercise as part of clinical practice guidelines for depression, particularly vigorous-intensity exercise,” say the researchers on the O Globo website.
The fact that intense exercise produces higher levels of endorphins, which are feel-good hormones, could be one explanation. In short, these hormones are able to reduce pain and bring a better quality of life.
Source: Terra
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