# Effects of high-intensity interval training on physical fitness, quality of life and cardiovascular health in methamphetamine-dependent individuals

PMID: 37621972
Journal: Frontiers in psychiatry
Published: 2023
Authors: Tan J, Wang J, Guo Y, Lu C, Tang W, Zheng L

## Question

Can long-term high-intensity interval-style exercise improve physical fitness, cardiovascular health, quality of life, sleep, and craving in men with methamphetamine dependence during withdrawal/rehabilitation?

## Summary

In men undergoing compulsory isolation rehabilitation for methamphetamine dependence, an 8-month supervised high-intensity mixed exercise program improved many physical fitness, cardiovascular, metabolic, sleep, quality-of-life, and craving outcomes compared with baseline. The program was long, institutional, and clinically specialized. It included basketball, resistance exercise, running, and rope skipping rather than a simple app-ready HIIT workout.

## Population

- Male compulsory isolation and detoxification personnel meeting DSM-V criteria for methamphetamine dependence.
- Sample size: 60
- Age: Exercise group 32.25 +/- 6.29 years; control group 31.86 +/- 4.99 years
- Sex: All male
- Fitness level: No regular exercise habits; excluded moderate activity >30 min/day and >=3 days/week in prior 3 months
- Health status: Methamphetamine dependence; excluded other drugs, mental illness history, major skeletal/muscular/cardiovascular/cerebrovascular/immune disease, major trauma/surgery

## Methodology

- Randomized controlled intervention in compulsory rehabilitation setting
- 8 months
- Bainihu Compulsory Isolation and Rehabilitation Center, Hunan Province, China
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- High-intensity intermittent mixed exercise.
- Modality: Non-confrontational basketball, resistance equipment training, running, and rope skipping.
- Work intervals: Not reported as a fixed interval duration.
- Recovery: Train-to-recovery ratio 1:0.5.
- Sets or repetitions: Mixed exercise content for 40 minutes basic exercise.
- Intensity: 76-96% HRmax; average HR 150-170 bpm during training and 120-140 bpm during recovery.
- Session duration: 60 minutes: 10 minute warm-up, 40 minutes exercise, 10 minutes stretching/relaxation.
- Frequency: 4 sessions/week.
- Program length: 8 months.
- Progression: Not described.
- Routine rehabilitation therapy.
- Modality: Routine rehabilitation in compulsory isolation center.
- Program length: 8 months.

## Outcomes

### Cardiovascular/metabolic markers
Status: improved
After 8 months, exercise was associated with lower heart rate, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar.

Resting HR p<0.05; systolic BP p<0.01; diastolic BP p<0.05; TC, TG, blood sugar p<0.001.

### VO2max and fitness
Status: improved
VO2max, strength, balance, flexibility, agility, and push-ups improved after the intervention.

VO2max and grip strength p<0.05; balance, sit-and-reach, quadrant jump, push-ups p<0.001.

### Body composition
Status: improved
Weight, waist circumference, and body fat percentage decreased.

Weight, waist circumference, and body fat percentage p<0.001.

### Quality of life, sleep, craving
Status: improved
Sleep quality score and cue-induced craving decreased, while SF-36 physical and mental component scores increased.

PSQI p<0.001; VAS craving p<0.001; PCS and MCS p<0.001.

## Practical Insights

- Exercise may support rehabilitation outcomes in substance-use-disorder settings, but this evidence is for a highly supervised institutional program.
- The intervention is not a simple HIIT timer prescription; it blends sports, resistance training, and aerobic drills.
- For HIITplay, use this mainly as clinical context rather than direct public workout guidance.

## Limitations

- No post-intervention follow-up to assess maintenance.
- Female participants were not included.
- Mechanisms beyond physical fitness, such as neuroendocrine or immune pathways, were not examined.
- Institutional compulsory rehabilitation setting limits generalizability.

## Safety And Adherence

- Two exercise-group participants withdrew following injury; two control participants withdrew for family reasons.
- Participants completed PAR-Q+ and had exclusions for major disease and trauma/surgery.
- Training was organized and supervised by graduate students in sports science/training.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37621972/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1093106) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10445760/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.