Good Mood Can Run a Long Time After Workout

Moderate exercise may lead to a happy day, a recent study shows. It has long been recognized that moderate exercise can cause mood improvement; however a study at the University of Vermont shows that better moods can be sustained up to 12 hours after the exercise is over.

"There are other studies that show there is acute improvement in mood after exercise, but we found those improvements are more durable than we thought," says Jeremy Sibold, an assistant professor in the University of Vermont's Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science.

That's an especially important finding for people who have depression or stress, he says.

"Daily exercise can improve your mood and mitigate some of the stressors of your day," Sibold says. "It's clear that exercise is critical for both physical health and mental health."

(USA Today 6/2/09)