Abstract
Background
Exercise has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, but few studies have studied exercise in individuals preselected because of their high anxiety.
Purpose
The objective of this study is to review and critically evaluate studies of exercise training in adults with either high levels of anxiety or an anxiety disorder.
Methods
We conducted a systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in which anxious adults were randomized to an exercise or nonexercise control condition. Data were extracted concerning anxiety outcomes and study design. Existing meta-analyses were also reviewed.
Results
Evidence from 12 RCTs suggested benefits of exercise, for select groups, similar to established treatments and greater than placebo. However, most studies had significant methodological limitations, including small sample sizes, concurrent therapies, and inadequate assessment of adherence and fitness levels.
Conclusions
Exercise may be a useful treatment for anxiety, but lack of data from rigorous, methodologically sound RCTs precludes any definitive conclusions about its effectiveness.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to acknowledge José Sandoval, Duke University, for his assistance with article review and data extraction. This manuscript was supported, in part, by Grant HL080664-01 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Authors’ Statement of Conflict of Interest
Authors Stonerock, Hoffman, Smith, and Blumenthal declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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Stonerock, G.L., Hoffman, B.M., Smith, P.J. et al. Exercise as Treatment for Anxiety: Systematic Review and Analysis. ann. behav. med. 49, 542–556 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-014-9685-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-014-9685-9