Regular Exercise May Boost Recovery for People with Substance Use Disorders (article)

“Of these studies, 21 explored the influence of exercise on stopping or reducing participants’ substance use. The results were significant: 75% of these studies saw a decrease or total cessation in substance use among those who engaged in physical activity. Furthermore, 12 studies noted that participants experienced lower levels of depression after exercising. The researchers also saw that some participants in the analyzed studies reported improved sleep.

Would positive outcomes have been even greater if participants exercised more frequently or at a higher intensity? “We don’t have the data to answer that,” said Piché. “However, if I extrapolate, we can assume that each person has a different therapeutic pathway and that their ‘optimal’ dose will therefore be different, too.”

Ultimately, she continued, “Physical activity [is] a simple way to empower [those with SUD] to take charge of their health and improve it.””

My Takeaways:

• Exercise was shown to help in assisting with quitting substance use. It may be a factor of your mind taking more control over your health in general or an actual physical change of your body making it more resilient to needing the particular substance effects or the withdrawal symptoms.

• Either way, participants who engaged in exercise while trying to cease substance use were found to have significantly lower levels of depression and even better amounts of sleep overall.

• It’s a powerful but simple supplemental tool for getting over substance abuse.

Full article is here!

#Exercise #SUD #Health

What are your favorite exercises to do?