Felts, M. W., & Vaccaro, P. (1988). The effect of aerobic exercise on post-exercise state anxiety and psychophysiological arousal as a function of fitness level. Clinical Kinesiology, 42, 89-96.

Aerobic exercise at 60% or 30% heart rate above resting heart rate produced a lowering of state anxiety. This was no more effective than a placebo relaxation session.

Implication. It appears that any intervention designed to alter the metabolic state of an anxious individual could be successful in reducing state anxiety.

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.