If sport is beneficial for our body, a study claims that it would also be very effective in treating anxiety and depression.
The benefits of regular physical activity are well established. In addition to develop certain abilities such as endurance, playing sports helps us stay healthy. Whatever the activity practiced, it allows reduce the risk of disease such as certain cancers, diabetes or obesity.
Very beneficial for children, sport can also have many benefits for adults. Thus, seniors can protect their brain through these physical activity sessions. But for adults of all ages, sport also contributes to good mental health.
Several studies have already shown that sport helped to reduce stress and improve the quality of sleep. More a new meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine confirms that this practice would help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
1.5 times more likely to see improvement in symptoms with physical activity
For this meta-analysis, the researchers pooled information from nearly 100 different studies. These concerned more than 128,000 different volunteers, of various ages and conditions.
The researchers took into account the sports nature or not of the volunteers and the duration of the sports treatment. While it might be longer on some studies, the researchers found it to be effective even over a period of less than 12 weeks (i.e. 3 months).
In addition, they noticed that anxious and athletic patients had more likely to see an improvement in their mental health compared to conventional treatment.
The practice of a sport, even a low intensity one, beneficial on the mental level
The study also specifies that it is not necessary to practice intense activities such as weight training, boxing or football. They found that these activities were effective when done for short sessions. However, gentler sports like Pilates, Yoga, and even brisk walking were equally beneficial.
In all cases, the meta-analysis highlights a possible evolution of patient treatment. Indeed, anxiety and depression can take many forms. In the most serious cases, taking antidepressants is inevitable. However, whether there is drug treatment or not, the practice of a physical activity might be prescribed in the persons concerned.
In particular, this might significantly increase the chances of recovery for patients, regardless of their level of anxiety or depression.
