[The role of regular physical activity in the prevention and intervention of symptoms of anxiety and anxiety disorders].

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness, but are not uniform, many clinical diagnoses include the symptoms of anxiety. That is the reason why there are relatively small numbers of population surveys and randomized-controlled trials which have examined the relationship between exercise and the various anxiety symptoms/ disorders. In our review we summarize meta-analytic studies, epidemiological surveys and randomized controlled studies which examine the role of regular physical activity in the prevention and treatment of subclinical anxiety/anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders. The meta-analytic studies and randomized-controlled trials examining the relationship between subclinical anxiety disorders and anxiety symptoms demonstrated small to moderate effect of exercise in the decrease of anxiety symptoms, especially for moderate-intensity exercise. This relationship was confirmed for both acute and chronic exercise, for state and trait anxiety in different sex, age and state of health groups. In the case of the anxiety disorders based on reviewed studies, we can conclude that there is a potential association between decreased symptoms of anxiety and exercise. The regular, moderate-intensity exercise can reduce and alleviate the symptoms of anxiety - at least in panic, agoraphobia and generalized anxiety disorders. The reviewed studies have been highlighted the fact, that exercise can be effective in psychiatric practice as an alternative or adjuvant therapy. Physically healthy people with anxiety symptoms, or patients with anxiety disorders can perform exercise, there are no contraindications. Although based on previous studies, we cannot assume that the relationship is causal, but we cannot ignore the evidences that are already available.