The Effect of Muscular Strength Training in Patients With Drug Addiction

Physical health does not have a high priority in today's treatment of patients with substance use disorder (SUD). SUD patients have a poor physical health not only due to injuries related to the substance abuse, but also because of the addiction-related lifestyle. There are few studies today that provide information about SUD patient's physical health, and especially there is little information about their muscular strength. One of the project's aims is to measure muscular strength in SUD patients who are being treated for their addiction, and see if they have decreased neuromuscular function. If so, we will investigate the effect of maximal strength training on neuromuscular function in these patients.

Strength training for leg muscles during10 weeks, 3 times a week: hack squat and plantar flexion, standing upright in a hack squat machine and lying down in a calf rise machine. Exercises will be carried out at 85% of 1-RM intensity under supervision at the institution where participants are having their SUD treatment.

patients treated for substance-related disorder but not participating in strength training intervention (no training control group)

Inclusion Criteria: being treated for drug abuse not using drugs during intervention period Exclusion Criteria: participated in strength training in previous 6 months cardiovascular disease any other disease that impedes to finish tests not showing up for testing sessions carried out less than 85% of planned exercise sessions

Unhjem R, Flemmen G, Hoff J, Wang E. Maximal strength training as physical rehabilitation for patients with substance use disorder; a randomized controlled trial. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2016 Mar 31;8:7. doi: 10.1186/s13102-016-0032-2. eCollection 2016.