Physical activity assessment in clinical studies of substance use disorder

Abstract

The therapeutic effect of exercise in promoting mental health is well known, and there is a growing body of evidence for incorporating physical activity-based interventions in the management of substance use disorders (SUD). A particular challenge in this area is a lack of standardized testing protocols between studies and clear descriptive statistics on the capacity of the SUD patient to perform exercise. Therefore, an essential starting point for new studies that seek to incorporate exercise into usual care therapy for SUD is an appropriate suite of baseline fitness assessments that include measures of aerobic capacity as well as muscular strength and/or endurance. We present here the methods and notes of our recent experiences in implementing baseline fitness testing of a patient population undergoing in-patient treatment for SUD. The tests described here have been adapted from freely available standardized tests that were developed for implementation with the general population. It is hoped that these experiences aid in the development of patient-specific physical activity programs that assist in the management of SUD.