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. 2025 Jan 23;17(1):10.
doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01058-w.

Impact of combiner aerobic and resistance training on depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Hai Wang  1 , Qinzheng Liu  1 , Yingxu Pan  2
Affiliations

Impact of combiner aerobic and resistance training on depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Hai Wang et al. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. .

Abstract

Objective: To summarize the existing literature and evaluate the efficacy of combined resistance and aerobic training in alleviating depressive symptoms among individuals with depression. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on study region, age, depression severity, intervention duration, intervention frequency, and whether the intervention was supervised or unsupervised.

Methods: Five databases were thoroughly examined from database establishment until August 20, 2024, to find randomized controlled trials that investigated resistance combined aerobic training impact on depression.

Results: Finally, 27 eligible studies were included, involving a total of 2,342 patients with depression. The outcomes indicated that resistance combined aerobic training notably improved signs of depression in these patients (SMD=-1.39, 95%CI=-1.80 to -0.96, p = 0.000). Subgroup analysis based on study area, age, severity of depressive symptoms, and exercise prescription revealed that resistance combined aerobic training had a particularly significant effect on middle-aged and elderly patients with depression, as well as on those with moderate depression. Additionally, moderate period (9-24 weeks), moderate frequency (3-4 times per week), a total weekly duration of more than 180 min and supervised training displayed the best results.

Conclusion: Resistance combined aerobic training serves as an efficient approach to relieve depression-related symptoms, particularly in middle-aged and elderly patients with depression and those with moderate depression. Moderate training intensity, duration, frequency, and total weekly duration offer the greatest benefit.

Keywords: Resistance training, Depression, Aerobic training, Meta-analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flowchart
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Risk of bias of each study
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest plot of resistance combined aerobic training effect on depression
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Fig. 4
Forest plot of subgroup analyses stratified by study area
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Forest plot of subgroup analyses stratified by age
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Forest plot of subgroup analyses stratified by depression severity
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Forest plot of subgroup analyses stratified by training duration
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Forest plot of subgroup analyses stratified by frequency of weekly interventions
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Forest plot of subgroup analyses stratified by length of intervention per week
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
Forest plot of subgroup analyses stratified by supervision or non-supervision
Fig. 11
Fig. 11
Sensitivity analysis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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