AUTHOR=Zhu Dong , Jiang Mei , Xu Ding , Schöllhorn Wolfgang I. 

TITLE=Long-Term Effects of Mind-Body Exercises on the Physical Fitness and Quality of Life of Individuals With Substance Use Disorder—A Randomized Trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.528373

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2020.528373

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background: Mind–body exercises (MBE) are sequences of low-to-medium-intensity activities that benefit healthy performers physically and mentally. In contrast to the unmodified application of traditional Tai Chi, Qigong or Yoga in healthy population, BMEs are typically tailored for individuals with substance abuse disorder (SUD). Despite numerous applications in practise, the detailed effects of tailor-made MBE for SUD are unclear.
Objectives: This study aimed to analyse and compare changes in the physical fitness and quality of life of individuals with SUD that underwent conventional or tailor-made MBEs.
Methods: A total of 100 subjects obtained from the Shanghai Mandatory Detoxification and Rehabilitation Center with SUD were randomly assigned into two groups. The subjects in the experimental group (n=50) practised tailored MBE for 60 min a day, five times a week, for 3 months. The subjects (n=50) in the control group were treated with the conventional rehabilitation exercises with the same intervention protocol. Outcomes of fitness and quality of life for drug addiction questionnaire (QOL-DA) were measured at the beginning and after 3 and 6 months. A two-way repeated measure analysis of variance was applied to compare the difference of treatments in two groups.
Results: Statistically significant differences for the experimental group were found in systolic (p < 0.01, η2 = 0.124) and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.01, η2 = 0.097), pulse (p < 0.01, η2 = 0.086), vital capacity (p < 0.05, η2 = 0.036), flexibility (p < 0.01, η2 = 0.143) and aerobic endurance (p < 0.01, η2 = 0.165). Results of QOL-DA showed statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups in total score (p < 0.01, η2 = 0.158) with greater effects on the former.
Conclusions: This study provided evidence that the tailored MBE could lead to remarkable effects with regard to blood pressure, vital capacity, flexibility and aerobic endurance in comparison with conventional rehabilitation methods.
Key words: Mind-body exercise; Methamphetamine; Heroin, Tai Chi; Qi Gong; Yoga; Rehabilitation; Quality of life
Clinical trial registration: ChiCTR-IPR-14005343