Exercise Eases Anxiety in Older Adults

A meta-analysis finds benefits in older adults

STUDY: Goodarzi Z et al, Int Psychogeriatr 2026;38:100044

STUDY TYPE: Systematic review and meta-analysis

FUNDING: Public Health Agency of Canada

Background

Exercise improves outcomes across nearly every psychiatric condition studied — depression, PTSD, schizophrenia. Now a well-powered meta-analysis asks whether it helps older adults with anxiety, a population where medications carry real risks and access to psychotherapy is often limited.

The Study

Researchers pooled 13 randomized controlled trials — 546 participants in exercise arms, 521 in controls — comparing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity against inactive controls in adults aged 60 and older reporting anxiety symptoms. Interventions included resistance training, aerobic exercise, and mixed programs, ranging from 6 weeks to 6 months.

Exercise reduced anxiety symptoms with a medium effect size compared to control (effect size moderate, SMD 0.66). Subgroup analyses showed consistent effects for resistance training alone (effect size moderate 0.76) and aerobic exercise alone (effect size large 0.82). Most participants had mild-to-moderate anxiety at baseline, not diagnosed anxiety disorders.

Limitations: Study quality was generally low — only one trial effectively blinded participants, and sample sizes were small throughout. Heterogeneity was substantial (high variety in the trials).

Practice Implications

1. The study pairs with another review that clarifies the dose for anxiety, emphasizing lower durations for people with chronic medical disorders.
2. Find creative ways to exercise, like brisk walking, dance, e-sports, and washing the car.
3. Check these medical risks before starting exercise, and warm up before the routine