Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2025
Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Published on: December 6, 2024
Effects of physical activity on patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of
Zhichao Yuan1, Chenggen Peng2, Linlin Yang3
1College of Sports, ChangSha Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Background:
Although it is often known that physical activity can effectively reduce anxiety and despair, differing results have been found for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study sought to comprehensively examine how physical activity affected the quality of sleep, anxiety, sadness, and PTSD in individuals suffering from PTSD.
Methods:
The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Scopus databases in English were examined. Included were all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined physical activity as a psychosocial remedy for PTSD sufferers. By the time of the meta-analysis search (February 2024), we had 12 RCT studies that met the eligibility requirements.
Results:
The study's findings demonstrated that physical activity improved sleep quality (standardized mean differences [SMD] = -0.38, 95% CI [-0.59, -0.18], Z = 3.65, P = .0003), anxiety (SMD = -0.26, 95% CI [-0.47, -0.06], Z = 2.5, P = .01), depression (SMD = -0.19, 95% CI [-0.37, -0.01], Z = 2.09, P = .04), and PTSD (SMD = -0.34, 95% CI [-0.50, -0.17], Z = 3.99, P < .0001). Each intervention ≤ 60 (SMD = -0.52, I2 = 0%, P < .00001), frequency of interventions ≤ 2 per week (SMD = -0.44, I2 = 7%, P = .0004), intervention cycles > 10 (SMD = -0.46, I2 = 8%, P < .0001), and the yoga group (SMD = -0.44, I2 = 7%, P = .0004) had the best impact, according to subgroup analyses. Veterans with PTSD responded most significantly to physical activity (SMD = -0.60, I2 = 0%, P = .002).
Conclusions:
It was discovered that people with PTSD can benefit from physical activity as an adjuvant method to enhance their PTSD, anxiety, despair, and sleep quality. Yoga has been found through research to help the symptoms of people with PTSD more than other sports. Due to limitations such as small sample size and some heterogeneity in this meta-analysis, further confirmation through more scientific and objective RCTs is needed in order to obtain definitive conclusions on physical activity for patients with PTSD.
More Related Videos
08:20Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure
Published on: January 18, 2021
09:55Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
01:25Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the...
01:27Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
01:30Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
01:20Psychological Responses to Stress