Walking for depression or depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ProblemDepression is a common disorder worldwide. Most patients are treated within primary care and antidepressant treatment is not recommended for people with mild depression. Physical activity has been shown to alleviate depression but it is not known whether the less vigorous activity of walking – a potentially widely acceptable and safe intervention – confers such benefit.MethodEleven databases were systematically searched for randomised, controlled trials of walking as a treatment intervention for depression, from database inception until January 2012. Meta-analyses were carried out on all trials eligible for inclusion and on sub-groups of outdoor, indoor and group walking.ResultsOf the 14,672 articles retrieved, eight trials met the inclusion criteria. The pooled standardised mean difference (effect size) was −0.86 [−1.12, −0.61] showing that walking has a statistically significant, large effect on symptoms of depression. However, there was considerable heterogeneity amongst the interventions and research populations and it is uncertain whether the results can be generalised to specific populations such as primary care patients.ConclusionsWalking has a statistically significant, large effect on the symptoms of depression in some populations, but the current evidence base from randomised, controlled trials is limited. Thus, while walking is a promising treatment for depression or depressive symptoms with few, if any, contraindications, further investigations to establish the frequency, intensity, duration and type(s) of effective walking interventions particularly in primary care populations would be beneficial for providing further recommendations to clinical practitioners.

► A systematic review and meta-analysis of walking as a treatment for depression.
► Eight randomised controlled trials with 341 participants were included.
► The pooled standardised mean difference (effect size) was ∼0.86 [∼1.12, ∼0.61].
► Walking has a similar effect size for treating depression as other exercise types.
► Research in implementing findings in primary care settings is warranted.