ReviewFrontiers in psychiatry2019
Exercise Intervention in PTSD: A Narrative Review and Rationale for Implementation.
Review in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 68 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
68 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 140 citations in OpenAlex.
- The impact of yoga on posttraumatic stress disorder symptom clusters: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Journal of traumatic stress · 2026Pooled it
- Psychological Interventions for Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Systematic Review.Journal of Korean medical science · 2025Pooled it
- Psychotherapeutic, pharmacological and other active interventions from the NICE guideline for post-traumatic stress disorder with sleep disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC psychiatry · 2025Pooled it
- Assessment of the effectiveness of exercise interventions in the treatment of PTSD: based on a systematic evaluation and meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Pooled it
- Preventing posttraumatic stress disorder following childbirth: a systematic review and meta-analysis.American journal of obstetrics and gynecology · 2024Pooled it
- Relationship between physical activity and individual mental health after traumatic events: a systematic review.European journal of psychotraumatology · 2023Pooled it
- Comparative Effectiveness of Multiple Exercise Interventions in the Treatment of Mental Health Disorders: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.Sports medicine - open · 2022Pooled it
- Mind-Body Exercises for PTSD Symptoms, Depression, and Anxiety in Patients With PTSD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2021Pooled it
- A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Treatments for Adolescent and Adult Sexual Assault Victims.Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses AssociationPooled it
- Climbing as an Add-On Treatment Option for Patients with Severe Anxiety Disorders and PTSD: Feasibility Analysis and First Results of a Randomized Controlled Longitudinal Clinical Pilot Trial.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Trial
- Comparing meditative scuba diving versus multisport activities to improve post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms: a pilot, randomized controlled clinical trial.European journal of psychotraumatology · 2022Trial
- Increasing physical activity in Cancer Survivors through a Text-messaging Exercise motivation Program (ICanSTEP).Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2021Trial
- Moderated mediation for exercise maintenance in pain and posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized trial.Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association · 2020Trial
- Pilot randomized controlled trial of exercise training for older veterans with PTSD.Journal of behavioral medicine · 2020Trial
- Voluntary versus forced exercise modulates anxiety‑like behaviors and hippocampal inflammation gene expression following traumatic stress in rats.IBRO neuroscience reports · 2026Article
- Motivational and Behavioural Physical Activity as Differential Correlates of Well-Being Following Mass Trauma: A Three-Group Study of Direct, Vicarious, and Non-Exposed Individuals.Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress · 2026Article
- Comparative effects of voluntary and forced exercise on cognitive performance, thyroid function, and hippocampal integrity in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder.IBRO neuroscience reports · 2026Article
- Article
- Exercise and Eating Habits Among Men Exposed to Sexual Trauma: The Role of Self-Blame.Traumatology · 2026Article
- Existing and Potential Therapies for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms in Intimate Partner Violence: A Narrative Review.Brain sciences · 2026Review
8 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prominent mental health problem in veteran and community populations. There is accumulating evidence to suggest that aerobic exercise may serve as an effective treatment option for individuals with PTSD. The purpose of this review is to summarize the existing literature exploring aerobic exercise and PTSD and briefly discuss potential mechanisms of PTSD symptom reduction. A search of electronic databases and reference sections of relevant articles published through October 1, 2018 revealed 19 relevant studies that examined aerobic exercise and PTSD symptomatology. A narrative review of extant studies provides encouraging evidence that aerobic exercise interventions alone or as an adjunct to standard treatment may positively impact PTSD symptoms. Potential mechanisms by which aerobic exercise could exert a positive impact in PTSD include exposure and desensitization to internal arousal cues, enhanced cognitive function, exercise-induced neuroplasticity, normalization of hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA) function, and reductions in inflammatory markers. Randomized clinical trials and translational neuroscience approaches are required to clarify the efficacy of exercise intervention for PTSD and elucidate potential mechanisms of exercise-induced PTSD symptom reduction.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.