Exercise for Anxiety: Efficacy of Exercise for Mental Health and Strategies to Improve Exercise Motivation and Mood Benefits

Though evidence-based psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies are efficacious for anxiety, some individuals do not respond or do not receive these interventions due to barriers. Exercise is an easily acceptable alternative. Exercise as a standalone intervention and adjunct to other evidence-based interventions is effective for improving anxiety and depression symptoms and can prevent onset of anxiety or depression. Exercise can also improve associated symptoms such as sleep, anxiety sensitivity, and inflammation. Though exercise is beneficial, individuals with anxiety disorders may have barriers to exercise engagement. Framing attention to immediate mood rather than delayed health benefits of exercise may help improve adherence and mood. Further, providers can utilize cognitive-behavioral motivation enhancement techniques to improve exercise motivation, engagement, and mood benefits. This review aims to increase mental health providers' confidence and competence to prescribe exercise as an adjunct or alternative intervention to improve mental health.