Impact of physical exercise interventions on post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Hongliang Wang, Shiwei Chen, Wenling Gou et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of physical exercise interventions on PTSD symptoms across various populations. Analyzing 16 randomized controlled trials with 663 participants, the study found that exercise significantly reduced PTSD symptoms, with a pooled effect size of Hedges' g = -0.49. Subgroup analyses indicated larger effects for yoga and military populations, though not statistically significant.
Key findings
- Exercise interventions led to a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms with Hedges' g = -0.49.
- No significant differences in treatment effects were found between exercise modalities or populations.
- Yoga-based interventions showed larger effect sizes, but differences were not statistically significant.
- Training duration did not significantly influence treatment efficacy.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that structured exercise can be an effective adjunctive treatment for PTSD, offering a scalable approach to symptom management. Clinicians may consider incorporating exercise into treatment plans for patients with PTSD.