Depressive Symptoms, How Resistance Training Can Reduce Them

When people think of exercise, they often only look at the physical benefits. Most people choose to exercise because they want to get in shape and be stronger. However, recent studies provide evidence that resistance training may be linked to helping depressive symptoms.  Results from thirty-three clinical trials with over 1,000 participants reveal that exercise can help with depression. In the paper, “Association of Efficacy of Resistance Exercise Training with Depressive Symptoms,” Brett R. Gordon MSc, Cillian  P. McGowell BSc, and Mats Hallgren PhD outline the results from the study and discuss how resistance exercise can reduce depressive symptoms.

Why This Matters

Unfortunately, mental health issues are not uncommon in today’s society. It is a serious problem that is becoming all too prevalent. We can no longer ignore depression and all that comes with it. It is time to address ways in which people can improve their overall mental state. Common answers include counseling, medication, meditation, and other activities that focus on mental and emotional stability. However, people are realizing that physical exercise can vastly improve a person’s mental health. The study shows that “resistance exercise training significantly reduced depressive symptoms among adults regardless of health status, total prescribed volume of resistance exercise training, or improvements in strength.” Participants struggling with depression found their symptoms decreased after implementing resistance exercise into their lives. Investing the time and energy in exercise is also an investment in mental health.

Next Steps

The paper recognizes the fact that there is a great need for more studies to be done, but initial findings show that resistance exercise does impact a person’s depressive symptoms. While it is extremely important to seek help when experiencing depression or other mental health issues, people should not overlook resistance exercise. Adding a consistent exercise routine into your schedule can go a long way in helping reduce depressive symptoms. That being said, resistance exercise should not replace other forms of treatment. Depending on the severity of depressive symptoms, people experiencing them should seek help. Resistance exercise reduces symptoms; it should not act as the sole form of treatment for depression. It is more important than ever to take care of mental and emotional health in addition to physical health. It just so happens that caring for your physical health might contribute to your mental health.

 

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