The spiral of deconditioning

Doing nothing, being inactive, are inappropriate behaviours in the context of stress, anxiety and depression.

In contrast to what regular physical activity produces, inactivity leads to muscle wasting, increased tiredness, evidencing muscle deconditioning. This increases symptoms of anxiety and depression in a negative spiral.

Thankfully, this phenomenon is reversible. It is known that the progressive increase in physical activity generates numerous physiological mechanisms such as the decrease in vascular resistance, vasodilatation, increase in the capacity of the respiratory muscles which, associated with hormonal and biochemical effects, leads in a positive spiral towards a decrease in symptoms and an increase in quality of life.