Effects of moderate-intensity exercise on social health and physical and mental health of methamphetamine-dependent individuals: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectiveMethamphetamine (MA)-dependent individuals’ health problems are widespread and need to be solved urgently. Exercise is considered a potential treatment for MA dependents. The study aimed to determine the effects of a 12-week aerobic exercise on the social, physical, and mental health of MA-dependent individuals.Materials and methodsSixty MA-dependent individuals were randomly assigned into two groups. Subjects in the exercise group (n = 30) received an exercise intervention five days a week for 60 min each for 12 weeks. Subjects in the control group (n = 30) received regular corrective rehabilitation without exercise in the same setting. Outcome measures, including questionnaires [quality of life scale for drug addiction (QOL-DA), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)] and physical fitness, were arranged the day before the start of the intervention and the day after the end of the intervention. Two-factor repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the treatment differences between the two groups.ResultsAfter 12 weeks of the intervention period, social health was significantly improved in the exercise group (P < 0.01), and there was a statistically significant difference in mental health scores between exercise group and control group, with a greater impact in exercise group.(Psychology: P < 0.01; SAS: P < 0.01; SDS: P < 0.01; PSQI: P < 0.01), physical health improved in the exercise group, physiology (P < 0.01), symptom (P < 0.01), heart rate (P < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (P < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (P < 0.01), vital capacity (P < 0.05), grip (P < 0.01), vertical jump (P < 0.001), sit and reach (P < 0.01), 50-meter run (P < 0.01), and reaction time (P < 0.01).ConclusionAerobic exercise intervention is an effective treatment for MA-dependent individuals, and the 12-week intervention improved the social, physical, and mental health of MA-dependent individuals. We recommend that future studies focus more on drug-dependent individuals’ overall health status rather than just relapse.Clinical trial registration: [https://www.chictr.org.cn/hvshowproject.aspx?id=131048], identifier [ChiCTR2200055348].

Effects of exercise interventions on negative emotions, cognitive performance and drug craving in methamphetamine addiction

“…Furthermore, exercise intervention can help to recover the brain damage (13), facilitate long-term synaptic potentiation-related pathways (14), and promote recovery from severe mental disorders, which was confirmed by realworld multicenter study (15). Exercise has been found to be an effective intervention in improving social health and mental health in people with MUD (16). Moreover, exercise can promote the release of endorphins in the brain, which are naturally occurring analgesics that help to alleviate stress and depression symptoms (17,18).…”

“…In people with mood disorders, aerobic exercise interventions for 8 to 12 weeks have shown some therapeutic efficacy and significant improvement in negative mood (55). A study of 60 methamphetamine-dependent individuals showed that 12 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise significantly improved the patients' social health, mental health, and physical health (16). Some researchers found that after 8 weeks of moderate-intensity exercise, participants who received exercise interventions had significantly lower depression scores than healthy groups, while participants who received the most frequent exercise had the best results.…”

Exercise intervention to reduce mobile phone addiction in adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…Moderate-intensity exercise can effectively improve mitochondrial function and increase myocardial energy metabolism ( Veeranki et al, 2016 ). Typically, 30–60 min of physical activity positively affects the recovery of many addicted patients ( Xu et al, 2022 ). For example, 30 min of Tai Chi exercise was revealed to increase dopamine concentrations and dopamine receptors, which had a positive effect on reducing drug addiction ( Wang et al, 2022 ); 30 min of moderate-intensity exercise was effective in reducing mobile phone cravings among college students with mobile phone addiction ( Yang et al, 2022 ), providing support for our findings.…”

Enhancing Substance Use Disorder Recovery through Integrated Physical Activity and Behavioral Interventions: A Comprehensive Approach to Treatment and Prevention

“…In the early stages of treatment, voluntary participation in walking and low-to-moderate-intensity exercise is recommended, as these have protective effects and reduce the risk of injury or other side effects. Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise interventions, including cycling, jogging, callisthenics, and stretching, are effective treatments for methamphetamine-dependent individuals, improving their social, physical, and mental health [ 34 ]. Additionally, moderate-intensity exercise has a higher rate of adherence than intense exercise [ 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”