Can You Treat Addiction With Exercise?

Substance use disorder (SUD) patients have various treatment options to choose from. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), support groups, detox facilities, and medications can all help reduce cravings or alleviate withdrawal symptoms. 

Though exercise improves overall quality of life, it does not appear on that list of treatments. New data suggests it should. Exercise could provide an inexpensive at-home addiction treatment. Clinical literature has confirmed that the two have an “inverse relationship.” People with addictions are less likely to exercise, and people who exercise are less likely to develop an addiction. 

A recent study suggests that the correlation between exercise and addiction rates goes beyond coincidence.

Treating Addiction With Exercise 

A meta-analysis of 43 studies with 3,100 participants showed a link between exercise and addiction recovery. Previous data suggests that people who exercise are less likely to suffer an addiction. These findings imply that addicts who begin an exercise regimen in recovery are more likely to sustain sobriety than patients who don’t exercise. In fact, three-quarters of all patients studied found that exercise reduced their drug use. 

Some participants abstained from all addictive behaviors, while others reduced their drug use but did not eliminate it. Instead, they “tapered” their consumption. These patients weaned themselves off drugs over time. Both groups found exercise improved their results.

Psychological Impacts of Exercise 

Beyond the physical, addiction patients benefit from the psychological changes and behavioral adjustments that form when they stick to an exercise regimen. 

Evolution designed the human body to move. The brain’s pleasure center activates during and after exercise. It increases the production of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, the chemicals responsible for mood, pleasure, and even happiness. Drug highs produce these same chemicals but at unnatural levels, which leads to increased tolerance. Higher and higher doses become necessary to achieve the same effect as the brain seeks dopamine by any means necessary. 

Exercise gives the brain an alternative on-demand dopamine source that doesn’t involve drugs at all. Regular doses of healthy dopamine from natural sources like exercise reduce the brain’s demand for addictive substances. The natural dopamine levels released during exercise help reduce tolerance, which helps the brain return to normal. 

Boosted Mood 

When patients find an exercise they enjoy, it provides a way for them to feel good that doesn’t involve drugs or alcohol—a rarity in sobriety. 

The boosted moods grant patients “more control of emotions.” This self-control reduces the need for substances to manage daily life issues.” 

Consistent Daily Structure 

People who exercise daily gain a vital mood boost every day. And patients who choose to exercise at the same time each day are more likely to stick with it long term. A set workout schedule gives the patient a structure to build their day around. This perk benefits patients who lost their jobs or left school due to their addiction since they gain a source of consistency and an activity they can use to plan out the rest of their day. 

Social Benefits 

Hobbies, like exercise, may involve group activities or classes. A regular exercise routine can introduce patients to new places and help them meet new people. These experiences and newfound friends fill the gaps in their social lives that were once occupied by fellow addicts or those that may trigger relapse. 

Improved Sleep

Many addicts struggle with sleep deprivation and insomnia in withdrawal. Disrupted Sleep patterns can make the already difficult recovery process even more challenging. 

Regular exercise helps counteract the side effects of poor sleep. People who exercise regularly fall asleep faster than people who don’t. 

Clearer Thinking and Improved Mood

Exercise improves learning ability, cognitive processing, and problem-solving. It can also reduce anxiety and depression. Exercise helps to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older patients. 

Addiction therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy require patients to restructure their thoughts and think through important questions to succeed. Therefore, the benefits of an exercise regimen could support and increase the efficacy of therapy programs, though scientists need more data before confirming this connection.

Replacement Activity 

Beyond the many benefits of exercise, including improved brain chemistry, social life, and sleep, exercise fills the time and money spent on using. Addicts in recovery actively engaged in an exercise routine have a commitment they strive to keep. This new habit offers patients an alternative way to spend their time, money, and energy. Through exercise, patients integrate a healthier alternative to addictive activities they still enjoy. 

Best Exercise for Addiction Treatments 

None of the studies provided a breakdown of the specific exercises their subjects followed. However, the studies that included workout details referenced aerobic exercise. 

The phrase “aerobic exercise” refers to any exercise that increases heart rate and breaths per minute. It includes:

• Walking 
• Cycling
• Running 
• Swimming 
• Hiking 
• Dancing 

Aerobic exercise is an alternative to “anaerobic” exercises, such as weight lifting, circuit training, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). These exercises burn fat, build muscle, and strengthen bones. Scientists have not yet confirmed whether anaerobic exercise provides the same addiction recovery benefits, but it is safe to say this form of exercise is beneficial for overall health and wellness.

Is Exercise Proven to Treat Addiction? 

No. 

Experts agree that a link exists, but they also agree more studies are needed before they can make a definitive claim. 

The better question: Does it matter? 

Exercise has many benefits even without a boost to addiction recovery: 

• Bolstered immune system 
• Strengthened muscles and bones 
• Weight management and fat loss
• Reduced feelings of depression and anxiety (which reduces self-medication) 

Few lifestyle choices can match exercise’s many benefits.

You can make other impactful choices if you or a loved one struggles with addiction. Visiting the SoberMind Recovery facility can make an enormous difference in your life. 

SoberMind Recovery: Addiction Recovery That Lasts 

SoberMind is so much more than an LA inpatient rehab facility. We combine specialized treatment for vulnerable groups, detox various drugs, and cognitive behavioral therapy to help our patients recover from addiction and build sustainable and healthy habits for the rest of their lives.