In 2019, 970 million people suffered from a mental disorder, according to Public Health France. What if the best remedy for this type of disorder was to play sports? In any case, this is what a study carried out by Australian researchers from the University of South Australia and published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM), relayed by 20 Minutes, suggests. According to this work, which involved 128,000 participants, “physical activity is extremely beneficial in improving symptoms of depression, anxiety and distress”.
Faced with symptoms of depression, physical activity would even be 1.5 times more effective than psychotherapy or the drugs usually prescribed, the study reveals. Among the most beneficial sports are walking, yoga or even fitness. On the other hand, high intensity exercises are the most effective.
The study was conducted from 97 reviews. The benefits of physical activity were most notable in people with depression, pregnant women, postpartum women, healthy people, and people with HIV or kidney disease.
For Professor Carol Maher, who participated in the work, the latter must contribute to advancing the management of mental disorders: “We hope, she says, that this review will highlight the need for physical activity, including interventions for structured exercises, as the main approach to managing depression and anxiety. »
