Exercise Regimen can Help Women With Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Women who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder can get relief from their symptoms by undergoing a six week exercise regimen, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of South Carolina reveals. Currently those who have the anxiety disorder have to undergo drug or behavioral therapy though both the therapies only have limited success. However indulging in physical activity can provide a far effective therapy for relieving the symptoms of the disorder.

The researchers selected 30 women who had generalized anxiety disorder and who were receiving only drug therapy. The women were randomly divided into three groups, two exercise groups and one control group.

The first group underwent resistance training regimen for the lower body for six weeks while the second group took to cycling twice a week for the same duration. Doctors then tested the women for their symptoms for the first 16 days of the new regimen and also after two, four and six weeks.

The researchers found that 60 percent of those who underwent resistance training had a remission of their disorder symptoms compared to 40 percent in the cycling group and 30 percent in the control group.

“Our findings suggest that exercise training is a feasible, safe and well-tolerated short-term treatment option. These findings warrant further investigation with larger trials”, lead researcher Matthew Herring said.

Source-Medindia