Table 1.
Study overview of neuromuscular exercise interventions.
| References | Study design | Sample: Population, Sample size (n), Age (years) | Groups | Intervention | Training characteristics | Outcome measures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (30) | Randomized, controlled trial | Sedentary women with a BDI-II score over 14, aged 18–50 years, n = 26; INT: 33.08 ± 9.11 year CON: 32.38 ± 8.27 year |
INT (n = 13) CON (n = 13) |
(a) INT, croup based yoga sessions with 5 min of pranayama (breathing exercise), 5 min warm-up, 40 min of asana (yoga poses) practice and 10 min of savasana (meditation/relaxation). No intensity described, assumption to be low to moderate intensity (b) CON, instructed to maintain their usual level of physical activity during the study duration |
12 weeks, 2 sessions/week (24 training sessions); each session lasted 60 min | BDI-II |
| 2 | (29) | Randomized, controlled trial | Women with diagnosed depression (Research Diagnostic criteria), aged 18–35 years n = 40; 28.52 ± 4.36 year |
INT (n = 14) INT (n = 15) 3) CON (n = 11) |
(a) INT, aerobic exercise prescription on the other over- view (b) INT, 5–10 min warm-up, a standard 10-station program with a heart rate below50–60% of maximum heart rate and a 5–10 min cool-down period (c) CON, wait- list control group |
8 weeks, 4 sessions/week (32 training sessions); no general exercise duration | BDI and HRSD |
| 3 | (31) | Randomized, controlled trial | Pregnant women with diagnostic criteria for depression on SCID, <40 years old, n = 92; INT: 24.4 ± 4.7 year CON: 26.0 ± 5.6 year |
INT (n = 46) CON (n = 46) |
(a) INT, yoga/tai- chi group sessions with a duration of 20 min. No intensity described, assumption that Tai- Chi lessons have moderate intensity (b) CON, wait- list control group; no intervention |
12 weeks, 1 session/week (12 training sessions); each session lasted 20 min | CES-D |
| 4 | (32) | Comparative, controlled trial with an open- labeled design | Out-patients, fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for MDD, n = 58; 33.65 y mean age |
INT (n = 15), not in meta- analysis included INT (n = 27) CON (n = 16) |
(a) INT, yoga only, not in the meta- analysis involved (b) INT, yoga lessons with a duration of 60 min per lesson consisting of yogasana and breathing procedures. No intensity described, assumption to be low to moderate intensity. Furthermore, they received antide-pressant medications with a dose defined by the treating psychiatrist |
First 2 weeks daily train- ing, next 2 weeks weekly interval (16 training ses- sions); each session lasted 60 min | HRSD |
| 5 | (33) | Randomized, controlled trial | Older adults over 65 years, with a GDS- score > 5, n = 57; 76.53 ± 5.94 year |
INT (n = 19) INT (n = 18), not in meta- analysis in- cluded CON (n = 20) |
(a) INT, physical exercises including a warm-up, cardio- vascular exercises (walking with waving or clapping hands), muscle strength exercises (triceps brachii, biceps brachii, quadriceps femoris, iliopsoas) with a rated Borg Scale score between 12 and 14 and a cool-down (b) INT, cognitive behavioral therapy, not in meta-analysis included (c) CON, they receive no extra care |
12 weeks, 3 sessions/week (36 training sessions); each session lasted 50 min | GDS-15 |
| 6 | (34) | Randomized, controlled trial | Older adults over 60 years, fulfilled DSM- IV criteria for MDD, n = 73; INT: 69.1 ± 7.0 year CON: 72.0 ± 7.4 year |
INT (n = 36) CON (n = 37) |
(a) INT, 2 h of Tai Chi Chi; TCC employs “meditation through movement” No intensity described, assumption to be moderate intensity (b) Furthermore, they received 10 mg/day of escitalopram (c) CON, they received a Health Education Protocol. Furthermore, they received 10 mg/day of escitalopram |
10 weeks, 1 session/week (10 training sessions); each session lasted 120 min | HRSD |
| 7 | (35) | Randomized, controlled trial | Outpatient with a GDS- score > 10, aged over 53 years, n = 86; INT: 63.7 year CON: 66.2 year |
INT (n = 43) CON (n = 43) |
(a) INT, exercise classes with predominantly weight- bearing exercise performed to music. There was a warm-up period of 5–10 min and a cool-down period at the end. No intensity described (b) CON, they received twice weekly health education talks for 10 weeks |
10 weeks, 2 sessions/week (20 training sessions); each session lasted 45 min | HRSD and GDS |
| 8 | (36) | Randomized, naturalistic con- trolled trial | Women, aged 40–60 years, fulfilled DSM- IV criteria for MDD, n = 30; no mean age |
INT (n = 10) CON (n = 20) |
(a) INT, each session included a warm up (5 min), physiological strengthening with machines (50 min) and a cool-down (5 min). The exercise machines allowed different exercises for arms, legs and postural muscles and were changed every 4 min. There is no specific exercise intensity described. Further- more, they received pharmacological therapy (b) CON, they only tot pharmacological therapy |
32 weeks, 2 ses- sions/week (64 training sessions); each session lasted 60 min | HAM-D |
| 9 | (37) | Randomized, controlled pilot trial | Aged over 18 years, diagnosis of MDD, n = 38; 43.4 ± 14.8 year |
INT (n = 20) CON (n = 18) |
(a) INT, 90- min practice sessions comprised of classical yoga breathing techniques, mindful body postures and final deep relaxation pose. No exercise intensity described, assumption that hatha yoga is low intensity exercise (b) CON, 90-min education modules on yoga history and philosophy |
8 weeks, 2 sessions/week (16 training sessions); each session lasted 90 min | BDI |
| 10 | (38) | Randomized, controlled trial | Aged 60 years or older, fulfilled DSM- IV criteria for MDD, n = 32; INT: 70 ± 1.5 year CON: 72 ± 2.0 year |
INT (n = 17) CON (n = 15) |
(a) INT, a high intensity (80% of one repetition maximum) progressive resistance training for the large muscle groups with 3 sets of 8 repetitions on each machine. The exercises included chest press, lat pulldown, leg press, knee extension and knee flexion. (b) CON, control subjects engaged in a health education program of lectures and videos | 10 weeks, 3 sessions/week (30 training sessions); each session lasted 50 min | BDI |
| 11 | (39) | Randomized, controlled trial | Aged 60–85 years, fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for MDD, n = 60; INT: 69 ± 5 year INT: 70 ± 7 year CON: 69 ± 7 year |
INT (n = 20) INT (n = 20) CON (n = 20) |
(c) INT, a high intensity (80% of one repetition maximum) progres- sive resistance training for the large muscle groups with 3 sets of 8 repetitions. Exercise machines included chest press, lat pulldown, leg press, knee extension and knee flexion (d) INT, same procedure as a) but with low- intensity (20% of one repetition maximum) (e) CON, received usual care |
8 weeks, 3 sessions/week (24 training sessions); each session lasted 65 min | HRSD and GDS |