Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Burnout Syndrome: a Systematic Review of Interventions and Outcomes

This systematic review explores the impact of aerobic exercise on burnout syndrome, focusing on its effectiveness, mechanisms, and application. A search of seven databases – including PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus – identified 5,130 studies published between 2010–2024, of which five met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 347 participants. Burnout was measured using established tools like the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure, whereas bias risk was assessed with the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Findings consistently demonstrated that aerobic exercise – including jogging – and cycling significantly reduced burnout dimensions such as emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, whereas improving psychological well-being and job satisfaction among various populations – including healthcare workers, university students, and employees in high-stress occupations. However, inconsistencies in exercise parameters such as frequency, intensity, and duration – coupled with small sample sizes and a lack of intention-to-treat analyses – limit the generalizability of results. Despite these challenges, aerobic exercise demonstrated considerable potential as an intervention for mitigating burnout symptoms and enhancing mental health. Future research should focus on refining exercise protocols, identifying optimal parameters, and conducting long-term evaluations to explore sustained impacts. Overall, aerobic exercise represents a promising, scalable approach for addressing burnout, offering both physical and psychological benefits across diverse populations.