Researchers have found that exercise for women during the first three months after giving birth reduced risk of postnatal depression by 50%.
The study divided 161 postnatal women with no previous depressive symptoms into two separate groups to test the effect of a physiotherapist-led exercise and education program on well-being. Participants of both groups were assessed for psychological wellbeing.
There were significant improvements in well-being scores and depressive symptoms in the group that received specialised physiotherapy exercises combined with parenting education compared with the “education only” group.
Read more at The University of Melbourne