According to a new study published in the journal, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, doing low intensity exercise even for a few minutes a day can prove to be beneficial in fighting off fatigue and increasing energy levels.
The study that was conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia had 36 volunteers who were put in two groups. One group went through moderate intensity aerobic exercise for an interval of 20 minutes a day, thrice a week for six weeks while the second group did low intensity aerobic exercise for the same period of time.Six weeks later, those in the group that had done moderate intensity aerobic exercise had energy levels rising by 20% and fatigue levels dropping by 49 percent. The second group that did low intensity exercise saw a rise in energy levels of 20 percent but their fatigue levels dropped by more than 65 percent.
Patrick O'Connor, co-director of the UGA Exercise Psychology Laboratory Patrick O'Connor, who co-authored the study along with Tim Puetz said, "It could be that moderate-intensity exercise is too much for people who are already fatigued and that might contribute to them not getting as great an improvement as they would had they done the low-intensity exercise."
"Exercise traditionally has been associated with physical health, but we are quickly learning that exercise has a more holistic effect on the human body and includes effects on psychological health. Regular exercise can actually go a long way in increasing feelings of energy, particularly in sedentary individuals", said Tim Puetz.
More than 25 percent of the world suffers from fatigue due to over work and lack of sleep.
"Exercise is a way for people to feel more energetic. There's a scientific basis for it, and there are advantages to it compared to things like caffeine and energy drinks," O’Connor added.
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