The Inner Road to Happiness: A Narrative Review Exploring the Interoceptive Benefits of Exercise for Well-Being

Background: Interoception, the multifaceted perception of internal bodily signals, is crucial for homeostasis, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. Physical exercise significantly influences interoceptive mechanisms through its varied physiological, neurobiological, and psychological impacts. Despite its potential to enhance this internal sensing across its dimensions and foster adaptive behaviors like self-regulation, exercise remains an underutilized therapeutic approach. Objective: This narrative review explores the current understanding of the interplay between exercise and interoception, examining its resulting impact on both mental and physical health. Method: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed using keywords such as “interoception,” “exercise,” and “well-being.” Article selection prioritized empirical studies, reviews, and influential theoretical papers. The synthesis of the literature was performed through a thematic analysis, structured around three primary mechanisms: physiological changes, neurobiological adaptations, and psychological benefits. Key Findings: Engaging in exercise improves interoceptive function by inducing physiological changes, fostering neurobiological adaptations, and yielding psychological advantages such as reduced stress. This enhancement in internal bodily sensing, encompassing its various dimensions, and promotion of adaptive behaviors has notable consequences for well-being. Conclusions and Future Directions: Exercise presents a valuable and readily available means to enhance interoceptive processing and encourage adaptive behaviors, with substantial positive implications for well-being throughout life. Future studies should focus on identifying the most effective exercise approaches tailored to individual requirements and exploring their specific impact on different interoceptive dimensions. Integrating exercise into clinical treatment plans and public health strategies offers a promising path to substantially boost well-being.