Why Exercise Is a Powerful Supplement to PTSD Treatment
Cuota
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. Exercise is a powerful supplement to a treatment plan, but it is not a cure or a replacement for professional medical advice, therapy, or medication for PTSD. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional before making any changes to your treatment plan.
When people think about treatment for PTSD, the first things that often come to mind are therapy, medication, or mindfulness practices. These are all proven and important approaches, but there’s another tool that often gets overlooked, exercise.
Far from being just about building muscle or burning calories, exercise can play a unique role in supporting people living with PTSD. It’s not a cure, but it can be a powerful supplement to treatment plans, helping individuals reclaim both their body and mind.
Reconnecting with the Body
PTSD often leaves people feeling disconnected from their own body. Symptoms like hyper vigilance, flashbacks, or numbness can make it difficult to feel safe in your own skin. Exercise, whether it’s running, yoga, weightlifting, or boxing, creates an opportunity to reconnect with physical sensations in a controlled, safe way.
Every rep, stretch, or step reinforces a message: I am here, I am in control, I am grounded.
Reducing Stress and Regulating Mood
Physical activity triggers the release of endorphins and other “feel-good” chemicals in the brain. But it’s not just about the post-workout high. Regular exercise helps regulate cortisol, the stress hormone that often spikes in people with PTSD.
This doesn’t just improve mood in the moment; over time, it can support better emotional regulation and resilience in daily life.
Building a Sense of Mastery
PTSD can make the world feel unpredictable and overwhelming. Structured exercise routines counter this by creating consistency and progress you can measure. Running an extra half mile, lifting a heavier weight, or simply showing up to the gym provides a sense of mastery and accomplishment.
For many, these small wins can start to rebuild confidence and a sense of agency, two things PTSD often erodes.
A Complement, Not a Replacement
It’s important to say this clearly: exercise is not a standalone treatment for PTSD. Therapy, medication, and professional guidance remain essential. But when paired with those approaches, exercise can serve as a powerful complement, one that strengthens both the body and the mind.
For some, the gym or the trail becomes not just a place to move, but a place to heal.
The Takeaway
Think of exercise as more than just fitness, it’s a new tool in the PTSD recovery toolbox. A run won’t replace therapy, and a workout won’t erase trauma. But movement can provide grounding, release, and progress, things that make the healing journey a little more manageable.
Whether you’re a veteran, survivor, or anyone walking the road of recovery, exercise can be a reminder: healing is not just possible, it’s something you can actively build, one step, one lift, one breath at a time.
Sources:
Frontiers in Psychology: A narrative review titled "Physiology mechanisms of exercise for PTSD" discusses how long-term exercise can significantly improve PTSD symptoms by modulating the central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, and immune system. It also notes that exercise therapy avoids the hospital environment, which can reduce the stigma associated with medical interventions.
Weblink: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1483523/full
Frontiers in Public Health: "A narrative review of exercise intervention mechanisms for post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans" highlights how exercise can affect brain structure, such as increasing hippocampal volume, which is often reduced in individuals with PTSD.
Weblink: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1483077/full
VA News: The Department of Veterans Affairs has published an article titled "Exercise may be useful treatment option for Veterans with PTSD," which summarizes a literature review showing that exercise has promise for reducing the severity of PTSD symptoms.
Weblink: https://news.va.gov/105736/exercise-may-be-useful-treatment-option-for-veterans-with-ptsd/
Psychology Today: An article titled "Exercising Your Way to PTSD Recovery" explains how trauma-sensitive yoga can help veterans reconnect with their bodies, leading to enhanced emotional regulation. The article also mentions how physical activity helps individuals regain a sense of achievement and self-identity.
PLOS Mental Health: A qualitative study on trauma clinicians' views of exercise in PTSD treatment highlights the importance of a holistic, mind-body approach. Clinicians noted the value of exercise in helping clients feel safe and in control of their bodies.
Weblink: https://journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000114
Las Vegas Athletic Clubs: A blog post titled "Managing PTSD and Mental Health Through Exercise" emphasizes that intentional movement helps reestablish the brain-body connection, creating a sense of grounding and control that is often disrupted by trauma.
Weblink: https://www.lvac.com/managing-ptsd-through-fitness/
Mayo Clinic: The article "Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress" explains how physical activity pumps up endorphins, the brain's "feel-good" neurotransmitters, and can help a person's body better manage the stress response.
Compassionify: A blog post titled "How Physical Exercise Helps Release Trauma?" notes that regular exercise promotes neurogenesis—the growth and regeneration of brain cells, which can increase the size of the hippocampus, an area of the brain linked to mood regulation. It also mentions that exercise helps release endorphins and endocannabinoids, which contribute to feelings of relaxation and reduced anxiety.
Weblink: https://compassionify.com/how-physical-exercise-helps-release-trauma/
PTSD UK: An article titled "How running can help people with PTSD" includes a quote from a veteran who states, "Running is not a cure-all, but it continuously makes me better at dealing with PTSD, gives me the courage to face triggers, and the confidence that comes from facing a problem head on." The article also mentions that the sense of accomplishment from measuring progress contributes to a positive mood.
Weblink: https://www.ptsduk.org/how-running-can-help-people-with-ptsd/
Warriors Heart: A blog post on "Trauma-Informed Fitness" discusses how structured, repetitive movements can create a sense of predictability and stability, which is grounding for individuals with PTSD. It also states that strength training encourages self-empowerment and body confidence by promoting strength-building routines.
Weblink: https://www.warriorsheart.com/trauma-informed-fitness-benefits-of-exercise-for-addiction-recovery/
Sports Medicine Weekly: The article "Healing Through Movement: The Role of Exercise in Treating Trauma and PTSD" clearly states that while traditional treatments like therapy and medication are cornerstones of recovery, exercise has emerged as a powerful complementary approach.
ResearchGate: A systematic review and meta-analysis on "Physical Exercise as Treatment for PTSD" concludes that exercise can be an effective addition to PTSD treatment, with greater amounts of exercise providing more benefits.
The Institute for Trauma-Informed Clinical & Therapeutic Interventions (TICTI): A blog post titled "Exercise to Support Trauma Healing" states that while trauma-focused therapies are the treatments of choice, exercise has been found to lead to greater symptom reduction when combined with therapy.
Weblink: https://www.ticti.org/exercise/
