Potential Benefits of Exercise for Helping Reduce Depression in Tactical Occupations
by Nick Ramirez, NSCA-CPT, TSAC-F
TSAC Report
May 2025
Vol 75, Issue 1
This article discusses the potential benefits of exercise for helping reduce depression in tactical populations.
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This article originally appeared in TSAC Report, the NSCA’s quarterly, online-only publication geared toward the training of tactical athletes, operators, and facilitators. It provides research-based articles, performance drills, and conditioning techniques for operational, tactical athletes. The TSAC Report is only available for NSCA Members. Read more articles from TSAC Report
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REFERENCES
- Alvar, BA, Sell, K, and Deuster, PA. (Eds.) NSCA’s Essentials of Tactical Strength and Conditioning. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2017.
- American Psychiatric Association. What is depression?Retrieved April 2024 from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression.
- Coburn, JW, and Malek, MH. (Eds.) NSCA’s Essentials of Personal Training(2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2012.
- Craft, LL, and Perna, FM. The benefits of exercise for the clinically depressed. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 6(3): 104, 2004.
- Hepner, KA, Roth, CP, Sloss, EM, Paddock, SM, Iyiewuare, PO, Timmer, MJ, and Pincus, HA. Quality of care for PTSD and depression in the military health system. Rand Health Quarterly 7(3): 4, 2018.
- Hruby, A, Lieberman, HR, and Smith, TJ. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder and their relationship to health-related behaviors in over 12,000 US military personnel: Bi-directional associations. Journal of Affective Disorders 283: 84-93, 2021.
- Knapik, J, Steelman, R, Trone, D, Farina, E, and Lieberman, H. Prevalence of caffeine consumption, and factors associated with use among active duty united states military personnel. Nutrition Journal 21(1): 22, 2022.
- Martino, BM, Ekkekakis, P, Magagnoli, M, Zampogna, D, Cattedra, S, Capobianco, L, et al. Physical exercise in major depression: Reducing the mortality gap while improving clinical outcomes. Frontiers in Psychiatry 9: 762, 2019.
- McArdle, WD, Katch, FI, and Katch, VL. Essentials of Exercise Physiology(5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2016.
- Moradi, Y, Dowran, B, and Sepandi, M. The global prevalence of depression, suicide ideation, and attempts in military forces: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross sectional studies. BMC Psychiatry 21: 1-31, 2021.
- National Institute of Mental Health. Major depression. 2023. Retrieved 2024 from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.
- Otis, NP, Walter, KH, Glassman, LH, Ray, TN, Kobayashi Elliott, KT, and Michalewicz-Kragh, B. Comorbidity of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder: Outcomes from a randomized controlled trial of surf and hike therapies among service members. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy 2024.
- Wolanin, A, Gross, M, and Hong, E. Depression in athletes: Prevalence and risk factors. Current Sports Medicine Reports 14(1): 56-60, 2015.
- Xie, Y, Wu, Z, Sun, L, Zhou, L, Wang, G, Xiao, L, and Wang, H. The effects and mechanisms of exercise on the treatment of depression. Frontiers in Psychiatry 12: 705559, 2021.
- Zumwalde, JK, Hawkins, BL, and Young, KM. Mental health stigma in active duty service members receiving mental health services. Military Medicine188(9-10): 3152-3159, 2023.
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Exercise Science Nutrition Client Consultation|Assessment Safety Legal Issues Basic Pathophysiology and Science of Health Status or Condition and Disorder or Disease
Keywords:
Psychological Disorders Adaptive Exercise Fitness Stress Coping Mental Health Tactical Facilitator Occupational Anxiety Depression
Psychological Disorders Adaptive Exercise Fitness Stress Coping Mental Health Tactical Facilitator Occupational Anxiety Depression
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