A recent study published in The BMJ examined the effectiveness of different types of exercise in managing symptoms of depression. The researchers analyzed 215 studies that compared various forms of exercise, including walking, running, yoga, tai chi, qi gong, aerobic exercise, and strength training.
The findings revealed that walking, running, yoga, strength training, and dancing were the most effective types of exercise for individuals who used exercise as their sole treatment for depression. For those who combined exercise with talk therapy, yoga and tai chi were particularly beneficial for men and older adults. People who included any form of exercise while taking antidepressants showed better outcomes than those who only used medication.
The researchers emphasized that while higher-intensity exercise was most helpful for managing depression symptoms, any regular exercise routine is better than none. The duration and frequency of exercise did not significantly impact the effectiveness of the exercises used to manage symptoms of depression.