Mixed
Resistance exercise training (RET) significantly reduces depressive symptoms in adults, regardless of health status, total prescribed volume, or strength improvements.
Engage in resistance exercise training (RET) to reduce depressive symptoms. The specific volume, frequency, or intensity does not need to be optimized for strength gains, as the antidepressant effect is independent of these factors. Aim for a sustainable routine (e.g., 3 days/week) regardless of the total volume or whether you get stronger.
Resistance exercise training significantly reduced depressive symptoms among adults regardless of health status, total prescribed volume of RET, or significant improvements in strength.
Why this rating
Meta-analysis of 33 randomized clinical trials with 1877 participants, though heterogeneity was high.
Source
Association of Efficacy of Resistance Exercise Training With Depressive Symptoms
Brett R. Gordon et al. · JAMA Psychiatry · 2018
DOI 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.0572
More from this paper
- The magnitude of depressive symptom reduction from resistance exercise training is larger in individuals with mild to moderate depression compared to those with subclinical symptoms.Good
- The observed antidepressant effect of resistance exercise training is smaller in trials where allocation and/or assessment was blinded, indicating that unblinded trials may overestimate the effect due to bias.Good
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