Exercise interventions for smoking cessation

Abstract

Background Taking regular exercise may help people give up smoking by moderating nicotine withdrawal and cravings, and by helping to manage weight gain. Objectives To determine whether exercise-based interventions alone, or combined with a smoking cessation programme, are more effective than a smoking cessation intervention alone. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group Specialized Register in April 2014, and searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL Plus in May 2014. Selection criteria We included randomized trials which compared an exercise programme alone, or an exercise programme as an adjunct to a cessation programme, with a cessation programme (which we considered the control in this review). Studies were required to recruit smokers or recent quitters and have a follow-up of six months or more. Studies that did not meet the full inclusion criteria because they only assessed the acute effects of exercise on smoking behaviour, or because the outcome was smoking reduction, are summarised but not formally included. Data collection and analysis We extracted data on study characteristics and smoking outcomes. Because of differences between studies in the characteristics of the interventions used we summarized the results narratively, making no attempt at meta-analysis. We assessed risk of selection and attrition bias using standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. Main results We identified 20 trials with a total of 5,870 participants. The largest study was an internet trial with 2,318 participants, and eight trials had fewer than 30 people in each treatment arm. Studies varied in the timing and intensity of the smoking cessation and exercise programmes offered. Only one included study was judged to be at low risk of bias across all domains assessed. Four studies showed significantly higher abstinence rates in a physically active group versus a control group at end of treatment. One of these studies also showed a significant benefit for exercise versus control on abstinence at the three-month follow-up and a benefit for exercise of 1 Exercise interventions for smoking cessation (Review)

Does physical activity protect against drug abuse vulnerability?

“…Unfortunately, other clinical trials have yielded no significant benefit as adjunct cessation therapies, perhaps because they were underpowered Ussher et al, 2012Ussher et al, , 2014. The apparent beneficial effect on smoking cessation observed in at least some clinical trials may be due to a diminution in cue-induced craving , thus reducing the relapse rate.…”

Effects of combined exercise and progesterone treatments on cocaine seeking in male and female rats

“…Another growing body of research has evaluated the physical and psychological benefits of exercise and physical activity and has begun exploring potential treatment applications for exercise as a behavioral intervention (USDHHS 1996, Ussher et al 2012, Smith and Lynch 2011). Controlled laboratory studies in humans demonstrated that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise decreased cravings for alcohol (Ussher et al 2004), cigarettes (Daniel et al 2004), and cannabis (Buchowski et al 2011), while brief episodes of isometric (Ussher et al 2006, Ussher et al 2009) and aerobic (Ussher et al 2001, Daniel et al 2004, Williams et al 2011) exercise also alleviated symptoms of tobacco withdrawal.…”

Environmental and Genomic Factors as well as Interventions Influencing Smoking Cessation: A Systematic Review of Reviews and a Proposed Working Model

“…CO or spirometry measurement) [100,101,102], incentive-based interventions [85,103,104], and hypnosis (even if men were more likely to respond than women) [105,106,107]. Positive associations are observed for acupuncture [107,108], increased physical activity [23,30,109,110] and aversive therapy [107,111], but the results are not significant. Improvement of SC is also related with the type of provider; e.g.…”