| John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia, | | | | depression. |
| would have arguably one of the most stressful | | | | Fortunately I was [and still am] a keen tennis |
| and demanding jobs in the country. Yet he still | | | | player. The simple action of stepping onto the |
| finds time for his daily fitness walk. He regards | | | | court, the hard, competitive physical activity and |
| exercise and fitness as an important part of his | | | | the camaraderie of other players, did wonders for |
| daily timetable and sticks to this morning schedule | | | | my sense of wellbeing. |
| no matter where he is. This message from the | | | | AEROBIC EXERCISES. |
| top highlights the critical importance of exercise in | | | | Several types of aerobic exercise have been |
| combating stress, anxiety and depression. | | | | found to reduce the symptoms of depression |
| We all know how important exercise is for weight | | | | including running, cycling, jogging, swimming or |
| loss, cardiovascular health, combating diabetes and | | | | going for a 20 minute walk. These types of |
| maintaining a high level of fitness. Our bodies are | | | | activities may not be appropriate for some older |
| designed to be active and any program that | | | | adults. Gardening or a short walk around the block |
| enhances this is beneficial to our health. Activities | | | | may be more suitable for those in this age group. |
| that boost our fitness can range from gardening | | | | In older people, exercise has been found to be |
| and walking to sports including tennis and | | | | just as beneficial as antidepressant medication or |
| swimming up to the extreme sports, including high | | | | social contact according to Beyond Blue. |
| altitude mountain climbing. | | | | STRENGTH TRAINING. |
| According to exercise physiologist Chris Tzar, | | | | Strength training and weights can also reduce |
| exercise is now considered a primary treatment | | | | some symptoms of depression. |
| for mild and moderate depression. Jeff Kennett, a | | | | According to Edith Cowan University exercise |
| former Premier of Victoria, is now chairman of | | | | science professor Robert Newton, the most |
| Beyond Blue, an Australian depression initiative. He | | | | convincing research to date showed high intensity |
| also stresses the importance of exercise and | | | | weight lifting resistance training was far superior in |
| fitness in beating depression. "Whether you walk, | | | | curbing anxiety and depression than either low |
| swim, play golf or go hang gliding, I don't care, but | | | | intensity training or just remaining on the couch. |
| physical fitness is terribly important to our | | | | In an Australian study published in the Journal of |
| wellbeing," he says. | | | | Gerontology in 2005, high intensity strength |
| WHY IS EXERCISE SO IMPORTANT? | | | | training was shown to reduce depression as |
| There are a number of theories about the | | | | effectively as drug therapy. There is growing |
| mechanisms behind exercise therapy to treat | | | | evidence that strength training should be offered |
| depression. Some suggest exercise increases the | | | | as a primary treatment for depression in older |
| release of endorphins and other "feel good" | | | | adults. It provides additional benefits including |
| hormones that have a similar uplifting effect to | | | | strengthening bones [better osteoporosis |
| prescription antidepressants. Others believe that | | | | management], preventing falls and managing |
| exercise develops greater self confidence and | | | | arthritis. |
| enables people to develop new relationships. | | | | Finally, before commencing any exercise program, |
| Exercise can also create a diversion, taking the | | | | it is important that you discuss your plans with |
| individual's mind off his/her problem. Some years | | | | your doctor. You may like to consider a tailored |
| ago, I suffered from work related stress and | | | | exercise program with an exercise physiologist. |