Exercise for depression: strong option with clinical benefits

Abstract

SUMMARY Exercise, investigated as a treatment option for depression, is promising in that it has previously shown antidepressant effects and is accessible, low-cost and additionally provides physical health benefits. This commentary assesses the effects of exercise interventions relative to control, psychological and pharmacological treatments on depressive symptoms, as reported in Clegg et al’s (2026) recent Cochrane Review. The review suggests that exercise may reduce depressive symptoms and provide benefits similar to those of psychological and pharmacological treatments. This must be interpreted with caution in light of uncertain evidence, but results show that further investigation is warranted.