Depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric conditions seen in
the general medical setting, affecting millions of individuals in the United
States. The treatments for depression and anxiety are multiple and have
varying degrees of effectiveness. Physical activity has been shown to be
associated with decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety. Physical
activity has been consistently shown to be associated with improved physical
health, life satisfaction, cognitive functioning, and psychological well-being.
Conversely, physical inactivity appears to be associated with the development
of psychological disorders. Specific studies support the use of exercise
as a treatment for depression. Exercise compares favorably to antidepressant
medications as a first-line treatment for mild to moderate depression and
has also been shown to improve depressive symptoms when used as an
adjunct to medications. While not as extensively studied, exercise has been
shown to be an effective and cost-efficient treatment alternative for a variety
of anxiety disorders. While effective, exercise has not been shown to reduce
anxiety to the level achieved by psychopharmaceuticals