Millions of Americans suffer from clinical depression. Depression affects roughly 9.5 percent of the US adult population. It has been ranked as the leading cause of disability with over $40 billon being spent each year on medical treatment and loss of work. The cost of treatment for this illness continues to rise. Most people first seek treatment from their primary care providers and are treated with pharmacologic therapy alone.

1.Millions of Americans suffer from clinical depression each year. Most depressed patients first seek treatment from their primary care providers. Generally, depressed patients treated in primary care settings receive pharmacologic therapy alone. There is evidence to suggest that the addition of cognitive-behavioral therapies, specifically exercise, can improve treatment outcomes for many patients. Exercise is a behavioral intervention that has shown great promise in alleviating symptoms of depression. The current review discusses the growing body of research examining the exercise-depression relationship that supports the efficacy of exercise as an adjunct treatment. Databases searched were Medline, PsycLit, PubMed, and SportsDiscus from the years 1996 through 2003. Terms used in the search were clinical depression, depression, exercise, and physical activity. Further, because primary care physicians deliver important mental health services to the majority of depressed patients, several specific recommendations are made regarding counseling these patients on the adoption and maintenance of exercise programs.

However, regular physical activity has a key psychological benefit of improving self-esteem and alleviating depressive states of mind. When you exercise your body also releases endorphins which improves your natural immunity and reduce pain. Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body. That feeling of euphoria is known as a “runner’s high”. Another theory is that exercise stimulates the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which is believed to improve mood.

Some studies on thermogenic hypothesis also suggest that a rise in core body temperature following exercise is responsible for the reduction in of symptoms in depression. It is believed that an increase in temperature of specific brain regions like brain stem, can lead to overall feeling of relaxation and reduction of tension.

 It is shown that people who exercise regularly benefit with a positive boost in mood and their rate of depression is lower. It also reduces stress, improves sleep and wards off anxiety. Research has shown that exercise is an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression. Sometimes exercise can be used as a medicine and prescription drugs can be lessened or eliminated in patients who exercise on regular basis. There aren’t specific exercises for depression. Pretty much any form of exercise can help it.

Because a social support is important for those individuals suffering with depression it might not be a bad idea to exercise with your partner or a friend. You can also look into joining a local gym with a sense of friendship and community like Cheetahfit. In doing so, you will benefit from the physical activity as well as emotional comfort, knowing that others are supportive of you.

Here at The Cheetahfit Personal Training Center we understand how hard it is to get started on an exercise program especially if depression is a factor. So our trainers first start designing and exercise program which is easy to follow and maintain just for your situation. When you feel comfortable with your routine, then we start varying your exercise activities so you still get results and your body doesn’t experience repetitive stress or excess cortisol that can be problematic with depression. We also make sure that your exercise routine is fun, so you don’t get bored. If you exercise regularly, it will become part of your lifestyle and it will soon help to reduce your depression.

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} em {mso-bidi-font-style:italic;} span.apple-converted-space {mso-style-name:apple-converted-space;} p.p, li.p, div.p {mso-style-name:p; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:139541875; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:2095455108 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; margin-left:27.0pt; text-indent:-.25in;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} -->