Depression depresses strength

Muscle & Fitness, August, 2008 by Tabatha Elliott

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression affects about 17 million adult Americans each year. That's more than cancer, AIDS or coronary heart disease. And it can strike anyone. In fact, many great athletes including Terry Bradshaw, Ricky Williams, Pat LaFontaine and Mike Tyson, have dealt with severe depression. If you're in a funk, get help nor just for your mental health but for your physical health as well.

Research from the Pennsulvania State University (University Pard) found that subject with depressive symptoms had lower index finger strength despite the fact that they had similar forearm muscle activity. The results suggest that depression can interfere with your body's ability to turn muscle impulses into strong muscle contractions.

--TABATHA ELLIOTT, PHD.

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EDITED BY JIM STOPPANI, PHD, AND MARK THORPE