In order to enhance college students’ behavioral patterns and mental health, this study suggests a novel program that combines biomechanical and behavioral activation approaches. According to their levels of anxiety and depression, 120 undergraduate students—60 men and 60 women—were chosen for the study and divided into three groups: the experimental group, which had mild anxiety and depression, the control group, which had no discernible anxiety or depression, and the intervention group, which had anxiety and depression but was receiving exercise intervention. The intervention group underwent 8 weeks of exercise training, including aerobic exercise, strength training and yoga, while the other groups were used for the assessment of baseline biomechanical parameters. Before and after the experiment, a three-dimensional motion capture system (VICON) was used for gait analysis, surface electromyography (Noraxon) for EMG signal acquisition, and a dynamic balance measurement system (Bertec Force Plate) to assess postural stability. Mental health was also assessed using standardized scales (PHQ-9 depression scale and GAD-7 anxiety scale). Results showed that anxiety and depression negatively affected gait parameters, muscle activation and postural stability, with the experimental group having a slower gait, poor symmetry and low levels of muscle activation. In contrast, the intervention group showed improved gait symmetry, increased stride length, and muscle activation levels returned to near control levels after the 8-week exercise intervention, demonstrating that the exercise intervention significantly improved these biomechanical indices.
