Those included in the experimental group continued diaphragmatic breathing exercises every day for three weeks and walking exercises at least three days a week.

The control group continued their routine lives, and at the end of three weeks

Volunteers participating in the study who were included in the experimental group performed breathing exercises every day for three weeks. They were taught to focus their attention on the hand on their abdominal area while breathing slowly through their nose and to increase abdominal movement while reducing chest movement. They were warned that during inspiration, as air filled their lungs, the hand on their abdomen should rise upward and the hand on their chest should not move excessively. Participants continued the training until they performed the exercise correctly. The diaphragmatic breathing exercise was performed for 10 minutes in the supine position during the first week, in the semi-sitting and/or sitting position during the second week, and in the standing position during the final week.

It has been reported that the interaction between oxidative stress and the immune system is important, and that activated immune inflammatory pathways can trigger oxidative stress. In our study, an ELISA test will be conducted to investigate how exercise affects the levels of oxidative stress (TAS, TOS, MDA, and F2-isoprostane) biomarkers, which play a role in the pathophysiology of depression.

It is believed that increased production of key proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 (IL-1) and acute phase reactants plays an important role in the development of depression as a result of immune system involvement.

In our study, an ELISA test will be conducted to investigate how exercise affects the levels of inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1) which play a role in the pathophysiology of depression.