Depressive disorders are a class of mental disorders characterized by persistent depressed mood, severely impacting population health and serving as one of the leading causes of psychosocial disorders. Physical therapy is an essential approach for intervening in depressive disorders and promoting mental health. It can significantly improve treatment efficacy and patient tolerability and is widely used as an adjunctive therapy for depression. This review integrates domestic and international literature on the research progress of physical therapy interventions for depressive disorders, providing a theoretical basis for developing scientifically sound and effective physical therapy plans for managing depression.