Exercise To Treat Depression

Wellness

oi-Cara

By Cara

Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 12:27

Exercise is the most effective remedy to treat depression and anxiety related disorders. Apart for medical treatment, doctors should consciously prescribe patients to exercise to get over depressions and anxiety.

"Exercise has been shown to have tremendous benefits for those suffering from mental health disorders. The more doctors are trained in exercise therapy, faster the patients would recover," said Jasper Smits, Director of the Anxiety Research and Treatment Program at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Smits and his colleagues based their finding on a dozens of population-based studies, clinical studies and meta-analytic reviews related to exercise and mental health, including the authors' meta-analysis of exercise interventions for mental health and studies on reducing anxiety sensitivity with exercise.

The researchers' review demonstrated the efficacy of exercise programmes in reducing depression and anxiety.

Traditional medical treatments of cognitive behavioural therapy often fail to filter down to all levels of the society. Everybody who get medical treatment do not respond to it either.

Therefore, exercise can fill the gap for people who can't receive traditional therapies because of high costs and lack of knowledge. Many become targets of the usual social stigma associated with such treatments related to mental ill-health.

Exercise can also help patients become more focused and get engaged with something worthwhile.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.