Effects of a multimodal physical exercise program on physical and mental health indicators in males with substance use disorder

Abstract

Introduction: Substance use disorder (SUD) is seen as a serious and growing public safety and health problem worldwide. Long-term sequelae may involve permanent damage to physical fitness, body balance, and coordination skills, with a severe motor, functional, and emotional consequences. Objective: To verify the effect of 16 sessions of a multimodal physical exercise program on physical fitness, body balance, and internalized stigma of inpatients for the treatment of Substance use disorder. Methods: Forty-three males with Substance use disorder (aged 33.9 ±12.4 years) were divided into an Intervention Group (IG, n=21) and Control Group (CG, n=22). The IG was submitted to eight weeks of training with physical exercises. Participants were submitted to the evaluation of internalized stigma, body balance, agility, and flexibility, before and after the intervention period. Results: Positive results were observed in physical fitness (agility, p=0.001) and body balance variables (center of pressure path with closed eyes, p=0.050, and ellipse area with closed eyes, p=0.031). The time of substance use correlated with lower performance in agility and body balance tests. Conclusion: The data seem to support the potential benefit of physical exercise as an adjunct in Substance use disorder rehabilitation process, particularly for physical fitness and body balance variables.

A Systematic Review of Exercise Intervention Program for People With Substance Use Disorder

“…In addition, exercise can alleviate sleep disorders, increase self-esteem and reduce stress response, which may help reduce the risk of relapse of drug-dependent patients, so exercise is used as an intervention measure to prevent relapse of Substance use disorder (15). From more data seem to support the potential benefit of physical exercise as an adjunct in Substance use disorder rehabilitation process now (41). To examine, from behavioral perspectives, the feasibility of applying group-based aerobic exercise as an adjunct to treatment aimed at improving the of substance use disorder patients (42).…”