Exercise before brain zaps: a new hope for depression?

NCT ID NCT05913401

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Butler Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether 20 minutes of treadmill exercise before TMS therapy could make the brain more responsive and improve depression outcomes. Twenty-six adults with treatment-resistant depression participated. The main goals were to see if people would accept and stick with the exercise routine, and to measure changes in brain activity.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Aerobic exercise (treadmill) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a simple, safe way to boost the effectiveness of TMS therapy for people with hard-to-treat depression.
What could go wrong: This was a very small, early study (26 people) focused on feasibility, not on proving the treatment works. Results may not apply to everyone, and the exercise may not provide added benefit.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

TREATMENT RESISTANT DEPRESSION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Butler Hospital

Providence, Rhode Island, 02906, United States

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