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Stretching and meditation exercises can combat symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and help normalize stress hormone levels, a new study suggests.

More than 7 million U.S. adults are diagnosed with PTSD each year. PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by traumatic experiences and can cause flashbacks, anxiety and other symptoms. Patients suffering from PTSD tend to have high levels of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and very low levels of cortisol. Researchers noted that both these hormones regulate the body's response to stress.

While cortisol levels normally rise in response to pressure, PTSD patients have abnormally low levels of cortisol.  Previous studies found that increasing cortisol levels in PTSD patients could help them improve. 

The new findings show that cortisol levels responded favorably in subject who participated in mind-body exercises for eight weeks.

"Mind-body exercise offers a low-cost approach that could be used as a complement to traditional psychotherapy or drug treatments," lead author Sang H. Kim, PhD, of the National Institutes of Health said in a news release. "These self-directed practices give PTSD patients control over their own treatment and have few side effects."

The study involved 28 nurses from the University of New Mexico Hospital, including 22 experiencing PTSD symptoms.  The participants were divided into two groups. One group took one-hour mind-body sessions where they performed stretching, balancing and mindfulness meditation where they performed deep breathing exercises while focusing on awareness of their body's movements, sensations and surroundings.  Those in the control group did not participate in the twice-weekly class.

Participants also underwent blood tests to measure their stress hormone levels and completed the government's PTSD checklist for civilians. Participants in the stretching and meditation group saw their cortisol levels increase by 67 percent and PTSD checklist scores decrease by41 percent.  In contrast, the control group had a nearly 4 percent drop in checklist score and a 17 percent increase in blood cortisol levels during the eight-week study.

"Participants in the mind-body intervention reported that not only did the mind-body exercises reduce the impact of stress on their daily lives, but they also slept better, felt calmer and were motivated to resume hobbies and other enjoyable activities they had dropped," Kim said. "This is a promising PTSD intervention worthy of further study to determine its long-term effects."