Walking briefly lowered anxiety scores in a selected multiple sclerosis group
A crossover experiment found short-term anxiety and mood improvements after treadmill walking in a selected multiple sclerosis group.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
A brief walking session was followed by lower state anxiety, meaning anxiety at that moment, and improved mood in this selected multiple sclerosis group. Rest did not show the same pattern. The result supports a short-term response under experimental conditions, but does not establish lasting relief or treatment effectiveness for clinically diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder.
This abstract-based result covers only the immediate recovery period. The abstract does not report participant numbers or clarify the analogue anxiety criteria, limiting assessment of precision and applicability.
What researchers found
State anxiety (STAI-Y1 questionnaire)
Walking versus seated rest, immediately and 20 minutes after a 20-minute session. The p value reflects statistical evidence that anxiety scores changed differently over time between conditions; it does not measure improvement size.
Each person tried both conditions
The crossover design compared walking with rest within the study participants, with condition order randomized and counterbalanced. Researchers measured anxiety and mood before each session and at the subsequent assessment points.
Scope of the improvement
Mood scores showed a similar favorable pattern after walking, but not after rest. Both outcomes describe an acute response in a selected clinical group, so they cannot establish effects of a repeated exercise program.
The original publication
Walk it out: acute treadmill walking reduces state anxiety and improves mood in people with multiple sclerosis who have analogue generalized anxiety disorder.
Šilić P, Motl RW
Anxiety Stress Coping · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41665401
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.