Summary and conclusion
A lot of research has been carried out to investigate exercise as preventative, early intervention and as a treatment option in depression. The review highlights the beneficial effects of exercise in depression. The review supports the role of exercise both as augmentative therapy as well as stand-alone treatment and in decreasing postpartum depressive symptoms. In patients performing regular exercise, the dose of antidepressant medication can be lowered. The consistency is the key factor regardless of the frequency or duration of exercise as long as exercise of moderate intensity is performed.50 The exercise should be recommended for patients with depression though of a short duration.52 The emphasis should be given on arranging customized exercise programs keeping in mind patient’s health status and preferences for exercise regimens thereby enhancing participation rate.109 And moreover, the exercise programs should be carried out under the supervision of professionals with relevant training. In a recent meta-analysis, supervised interventions were found to be linked with larger effects. Exercise supervised by physical educators, physiotherapists and exercise physiologists, was associated with the greatest improvements.27 In a recent finding, the exercise interventions delivered by exercise professionals had showed lower dropout rates. The most common menace associated with exercise is increased risk of musculoskeletal injury. But still in most adults, benefits of exercise outweigh the risks. However, exercise related risks can be reduced or avoided when exercise is performed in consultation with well-trained professionals.22 Adverse events are remarkably rare in studies evaluating exercise for depression.
