Strength training for depression

Depression remains a major problem in the Netherlands. Approximately 800,000 Dutch people suffer from depression. This can have serious consequences. To prevent this, it is possible to go into therapy. Medication is also often prescribed. The question is whether this is still effective, and there can be unpleasant side effects. Nowadays, more attention is paid to discovering other treatment methods. For example, research has been done into the effects of strength training. Numerous studies and research showed that people who did strength training felt better than people who did nothing physically.

Strength training: does it work against depression?

Unfortunately, there is no concrete answer to this. What we do know is that your body releases testosterone and dopamine during exercise. This makes you feel a lot more lively and cheerful.

Research shows that the effect of cardio makes the hippocampus grow. The hippocampus is an organ in the brain that plays a role in remembering and retrieving memories. If the hippocampus does not work so well, mainly negative memories come to the surface. Because cardio makes the hippocampus grow, there is a possibility that strength training also does so.

People suffering from depression often find it difficult to be outdoors. Going to the gym is not the right solution. Home fitness can be the answer to this. Once they take the step to exercise, they break a vicious cycle of inactivity and negative feelings. Because they have crossed that threshold, everything feels less hopeless.

Strength training intensity

A study was also conducted to see if the intensity with which people trained was related to the reduction of depression. This showed that depression decreased when training with heavier weights. The heavier you train, the lighter the depression becomes.

Do you know someone who suffers from depression, or do you suffer from it yourself? Then try strength training, and who knows, it might also work positively for you!