title: Exercise as a treatment for depression in elders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the use of exercise when treating depression in elders and to discuss the data supporting the relationship between increased physical activity and decreased depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Extensive review of recent scientific literature, both medical and gerontological in content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing physical activity markedly reduces depressive symptoms and is a safe adjunct or alternative to medication therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise has numerous physical and psychological benefits to patients. Physical activity should be recommended to all patients of all ages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing, Eastern Kentucky University, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. carol.palmer@eku.edu
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life