If you struggle with depression or anxiety, you may have tried various treatments like antidepressant medication or psychotherapy. But did you know there’s another option that can improve both your mental and physical health? It’s called running therapy, and it involves engaging in aerobic exercise of at least moderate intensity, supervised by a trained professional.
Running therapy is not a new concept. It has been used for decades as a complementary treatment for various mental health conditions. However, recent research has shown that running therapy can have effects on depression and anxiety symptoms comparable to antidepressants, but with additional health benefits.
A study conducted in the Netherlands by Verhoeven et al. (2023) compared the effects of antidepressant medication and running therapy on 141 patients with depression and/or anxiety disorder. The patients were either randomized or offered their preferred 16-week treatment: antidepressant medication (escitalopram or sertraline) or group-based running therapy at least twice per week. The researchers assessed the patients’ mental and physical health before and after the treatment.
The results showed that both treatments had similar effects on mental health, as measured by remission rates and symptom severity. However, the groups differed significantly on various changes in physical health: weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability. The running therapy group showed improvements in these physical health indicators, while the antidepressant group showed deterioration.
The researchers concluded that “while the interventions had comparable effects on mental health, running therapy outperformed antidepressants on physical health, due to both larger improvements in the running therapy group as well as larger deterioration in the antidepressant group” (Verhoeven et al., 2023).
Why does running therapy work? There are several possible explanations. Running therapy may enhance mood by increasing the levels of endorphins and other neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine. Running therapy may also reduce stress by providing a distraction from negative thoughts and emotions, a sense of mastery and achievement, and a social support network. Running therapy may also improve self-esteem and body image by promoting physical fitness and weight management.
Running therapy is not only beneficial for depression and anxiety, but also for other mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, eating disorders, and schizophrenia. Running therapy can also help prevent relapse and recurrence of mental health problems by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Running therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It requires individualized assessment, guidance, and monitoring by a qualified professional. It also requires motivation, commitment, and perseverance from the patient. Running therapy may not be suitable for everyone, especially those who have physical limitations or contraindications. Running therapy may also have some risks or side effects, such as injuries, overtraining, or exercise addiction.
However, for many people who suffer from depression or anxiety, running therapy can be a natural remedy that can improve their quality of life. As one patient who participated in the study by Verhoeven et al. (2023) said: “Running makes me feel good about myself. I feel stronger physically and mentally.”