High-intensity interval training improves sleep and psychological distress: BMJ

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies RCTs that investigated High-intensity interval training (HIIT) in healthy populations and/or those with physical illnesses and reported change in mental well-being, depression, anxiety, psychological stress, positive/negative affect, distress and/or sleep quality.

The Results of the study are as follows:

• Fifty-eight RCTs were retrieved. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) led to moderate improvements in mental well-being, depression severity and perceived stress compared with non-active controls, and small improvements in mental well-being compared with active controls
• There was a suggestion that High-intensity interval training (HIIT) may improve sleep and psychological distress compared with non-active controls: however, these findings were based on a small number of RCTs.

Thus, the researchers concluded that these findings support the use of High-intensity interval training (HIIT) for mental health in the general population.

Reference:

Can high-intensity interval training improve mental health outcomes in the general population and those with physical illnesses? A systematic review and meta-analysis by Rebecca Martland et al. published in the British Journal of Sports medicine.

doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2021-103984