June 10, 2009 – A 20 minute session of moderate exercise can counter the effects of daily stress and associated mood disturbances. These mood benefits persist for at least 12 hours, according to results presented at the last annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine1.
“Exercise is an affordable and affordable tool for fighting depression,” says Jeremy Sibold, who teaches rehabilitation and movement science at the University of Vermont in the United States.
He and his collaborators conducted their trial with 48 participants, healthy women and men, aged 18 to 25. One group of participants did 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a stationary bicycle, and the other group participated in a relaxation session. Participants took a psychological test to assess their mood before exercise or relaxation, and six times after, within 24 hours.
After 12 hours, regardless of training level and age, the effects of the workout on mood were still noticeable. For 12 hours, participants who exercised performed better on the mood test than those in the control group.
An antidepressant effect
In the past, results from similar trials have shown that exercise has an immediate antidepressant effect, but no one has yet measured how long this effect can last.
The “dosage” of exercise needed to achieve a beneficial effect on mood is relatively small: a few minutes a day is enough, argues Jeremy Sibold. It encourages people to engage in daily physical activities that they enjoy: walking, gardening, line dancing, etc.
Experts believe that physical activity raises physiological levels of certain neurotransmitters, such as endorphins, which have a beneficial effect on mood.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to MedlinePlus.
1. Sibold J. Exercise can improve mood for up to 12 hours. Presentation at the 56e American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. United States, 2009. Press release: www.acsm.org; MedlinePlus.
