Depression is an extremely common mental illness. It’s characterised by a persistently low mood, fatigue, cognitive impairments, and anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure. These symptoms can have a severe impact on an individual’s ability to maintain relationships, work and participate in everyday activities. There is a growing interest in complementary and alternative treatments, especially those that encourage lifestyle changes.
Use of aerobic exercises to combat symptoms is one promising way. Aerobic exercises, such as running, cycling and swimming, have been shown to be effective in treating depression. Aerobic exercises can reduce depression symptoms by reducing inflammation, and increasing dopamine. Understanding the mechanisms by which exercise can improve mental health and knowing how to create customised fitness programmes will help trainers play a vital role in improving the wellbeing of their clientele. For Personal Training Cheltenham, go to /insidesweat.com/pages/personal-training
Aerobic Exercise and Depression
Running, cycling and swimming are all aerobic exercises that have been shown to reduce depression symptoms. The mechanisms by which aerobic exercise exerts antidepressant effects are complex, and involve both physiological as well as psychological processes.
Reducing Inflammation
Inflammation plays a major role in depression. Chronic systemic inflammation may impair the transmission of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is critical to motivation and reward processing. Aerobic exercise can reduce systemic inflammation and improve dopamine transport. This reduced inflammation can improve mood and reduce depressive symptoms.
Boosting Dopamine
Dopamine is a key component of motivation and decision-making based on effort, which are processes that can be disrupted by depression. Aerobic exercise increases dopamine production, which can reduce symptoms like anhedonia, or the inability to experience pleasure, and fatigue. Regular aerobic exercise helps restore the balance of dopamine and improve mental health.
