14 DAY TRIAL // Several previous studies have shown that, when it comes to dealing with anxiety and depression, going for a run stands to help one feel better. Still, few would suspect that forced exercise can be as beneficial to an individual as voluntary exercise is.
Not to beat around the bush, several researchers are now saying that, contrary to what some might suspect, feelings of anxiety and depression are also eliminated to a certain extent when someone is made to exercise against their own will.
Thus, despite their lacking control of the situation, they eventually experience significant improvements in their mental health.
According to Daily Mail, these conclusions were reached following a series of experiments carried out on mice.
“Regardless of whether the rats chose to run or were forced to run, they were protected against stress and anxiety,” said Dr Greenwood of University of Colorado Boulder said.
“The implications are that humans who perceive exercise as being forced - perhaps including those who feel like they have to exercise for health reasons - are maybe still going to get the benefits in terms of reducing anxiety and depression,” he later added.