Exercise intervention for rumination: from neural mechanisms to clinical applications.

Rumination is a core modifiable cognitive risk factor for the onset and maintenance of mood and anxiety disorders. Exercise emerges as a safe, accessible, and scalable non-pharmacological intervention with potential to mitigate rumination and enhance mental health. This review synthesizes evidence on the neurobiological mechanisms and clinical efficacy of exercise interventions for rumination. Evidence suggests that exercise modulates activity in the default mode network and PFC-limbic circuits, and promotes the release of key neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors. Therapeutic outcomes are influenced by exercise modality, intensity, frequency, and individual differences. Integrating exercise with psychotherapeutic or digital tools could produce synergistic effects. Future research requires large-scale, longitudinal trials to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize personalized intervention strategies.