PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS BASED ON RESISTANCE EXERCISES AND THEIR IMPACTS ON DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is characterized as a complex psychological condition that affects an individual's mood and functional capacity. Resistance exercises have proven to be useful and accessible tools in alleviating depressive symptoms. Recent research indicates that resistance training helps reduce signs of depression, thus reinforcing its effectiveness in mental health treatment. Objective: To analyze the effects of resistance exercises on depressive symptomatology. Materials and Methods: This study is characterized as qualitative through an integrative literature review. A thorough review was conducted using literature addressing resistance exercises and their impact on depressive symptomatology, with the inclusion of articles published from 2020 onwards in Portuguese and English, retrieved from the following databases: Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and Elsevier’s premier platform of peer-reviewed scholarly literature (ScienceDirect). Results: The analyzed results showed that resistance exercise has positive effects on depressive symptomatology, with a moderate to high reduction in depressive symptoms, especially in mild to moderate cases. Additionally, this practice provided further improvements such as better sleep quality, increased muscle strength, and a more satisfying life. Conclusion: Resistance exercise is an effective therapeutic intervention for the treatment of depressive symptoms.