A PTSD injury (diagnosed or undiagnosed) can affect a first responder in any variety of ways depending on how they process their individual experiences. Despite the unique nature of each person’s injury though, many symptoms can be classified in one of three ways:
1) Re-experiencing (flashbacks, intrusive
memories)
2) Hyperarousal (being on-edge, constantly
or in specific situations)
3) Avoidance/numbing (avoiding stressors,
avoiding emotions)
With these in mind, a cross-sectional study from the National Institute of Health looked at dozens of papers published on this topic to discover the effects that exercise had on those categories. Studies that “focused on a single item questionnaire or variable” did not often find a link between exercise and PTSD symptomatology. On the other hand, studies that used a wide variety of PTSD assessment metrics did more often find such a link, indicating that exercise might function better as a global tool than a precision tool for mental health.
It was also found that varying exercise modes in varying amounts addressed different symptoms. For instance, vigorous exercise was found to be more broadly effective against hyperarousal while light exercise was found to work better for avoidance. It's important to note, specifically, the broad nature of these findings. Owing to the multitude of ways PTSD can be experienced within each category, exercise might not work for everyone the same way. That is why, while exercise is easily the most accessible form of treatment, it is also far more effective when used in conjunction with therapy.
Source 1: Exercise Intervention in PTSD: A Narrative Review and Rationale for Implementation
Source 2: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/63530
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