Can exercise truly alleviate mild-to-moderate and subthreshold depression? Evidence from randomized controlled trials

Objective: This study centers on populations with mild-to-moderate and subthreshold depression, excluding pharmacological interference, to systematically evaluate the comparative efficacy of various exercise modalities. Methods: ). Subgroup analyses were performed to explore the moderating effects of exercise type. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Results: < 0.05). Conclusion: Physical exercise serves as an effective intervention for ameliorating non-severe depression. Among exercise modalities, aerobic exercise demonstrated the most substantial symptom alleviation effects, while mind-body exercises exhibited optimal therapeutic stability. However, the overall certainty of evidence is rated as 'Low' (GRADE), and the presence of potential publication bias necessitates a cautious interpretation of the exact effect size magnitude. Clinicians are encouraged to integrate structured exercise as a valuable adjunctive strategy for non-severe depression management.