A Successful Treatment For Fatigue

As reported in Yahoo! Health, people who complain they are tired all the time now have an easy solution – a little light exercise.  Regular, low intensity workouts such as a leisurely stroll can boost energy levels by 20 percent and decrease fatigue by 65 percent, a team at the University of Georgia found.

“Too often we believe that a quick workout will leave us worn out, especially when we are already feeling fatigued,” Tim Puetz, who helped conduct the study, said in a statement.  “However, we have shown that regular exercise can actually go a long way in increasing feelings of energy, particularly in sedentary individuals.” 

Puetz and a team led by Patrick O’Connor at the university’s Exercise Psychology Laboratory studied 36 people who did not exercise regularly and who said they were always fatigued.  They were divided into three groups.  One did 20 minutes of moderately intense exercise on an exercise bike three times a week for six weeks, the second did similar workouts but at a much more leisurely pace and the third did no exercise.

The low and moderate intensity groups had a 20 percent increase in energy levels over the non-exercisers, the researchers reported in the journal of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.  “A lot of people are overworked and not sleeping enough,” said O’Connor.  “Exercise is a way for people to feel more energetic.  There’s a scientific basis for it and there are advantages to it compared to things like caffeine and energy drinks.”

Many studies have shown that exercise can boost energy, especially over time.  O’Connor’s team published a report in 2006 showing that exercise can reduce fatigue in patients with cancer, heart disease and other medical problems.  This study look at people whose fatigue did not seem to be associated with any medical condition.

Exercise produces seratonin, endorphins, and dopamine.  These are the “feel good” brain chemicals that energize us, help us to feel happier, and to sleep better.  These chemicals are the reward for our exercise effort, but the trick is getting started.  People who already feel tired just don’t want to get up and go.  So, the cycle of inactivity and fatigue is perpetuated.  The first two weeks are the hardest part and this phase requires a big push of will, commitment and determination.  But, it gets easier every day, especially when you see the benefits of increased energy.  And, if you are walking outside, you will get the added benefit of enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of outdoors.  Try a daily 20 – minute walk for four weeks, and you’ll enjoy a new energy level!