PTSD Exercise Canberra.

What the evidence says.

PTSD lives in the body as much as the mind: hypervigilance, startle, disturbed sleep and a nervous system that will not stand down. Exercise interventions reduce PTSD symptom severity as an adjunct to psychological therapy, and the newest trials show something more specific: carefully graded exposure to the physical sensations of exertion, a raised heart rate, fast breathing, helps people whose panic and trauma responses are triggered by those very sensations.

Resistance training adds its own value: measurable strength gains rebuild a sense of capability and control that trauma erodes.

How I treat it.

Trauma informed means practical things here: a quiet, private gym rather than a crowded floor, sessions that are predictable, no surprises, no touch without explicit consent, and a clear exit ramp in every session if today is not the day. Within that container we train properly, strength, conditioning and graded exposure to exertion at a pace your system can integrate.

Much of my PTSD caseload is veterans and first responders, funded through DVA, and I coordinate with psychologists and psychiatrists as part of the treating team. NDIS psychosocial funding and Medicare care plans also apply.

What we aim for.

• A nervous system that tolerates exertion, and then life, with less alarm
• Sleep and energy improving alongside training load
• Strength you can see on the bar and feel in your day
• Progress your psychologist can build on in session