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Background: Exercise has been recognized as a promising and emerging treatment for individuals recovering from addiction. The purpose of this article was to systematically review scientific studies using exercise as a means to improve, sustain, or treat addictions, and to provide suggestions for the future use of exercise as a treatment method for addiction. Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines, a database search was conducted for articles that tested the impact of exercise interventions on addiction-related outcomes. To be included, peer-reviewed experimental design studies had to use human subjects to investigate the relationship between exercise and the treatment of or recovery from addiction. Garrard's Matrix Method was used to extract data from reviewed articles (n = 53). Results: Nearly three quarters of the studies reviewed documented a significant change in addiction-related outcomes (e.g., more days abstinent, reduced cravings) in response to exercise exposure, particularly while someone was receiving treatment at an in or outpatient clinic. Many studies investigated the effect of acute bouts of exercise on nicotine dependence, and many studies had small sample sizes, leaving room for future research on how exercise might benefit people recovering from substance and process addictions. Conclusion: Results affirm that exercise can be a helpful aspect of addiction treatment. Future researchers should investigate different exercise settings (e.g., group-based exercise vs individual) and explore exercise maintenance and the long-term outcomes following discharge from treatment facilities.

Physical activity (PA) social-ecological model (SEM) posits the importance of several levels of influence critical for PA promotion within communities. The purpose of this study was to examine an SEM evaluation informing a county-wide active living plan in McLennan County, Texas in the United States. Mixed-methods evaluation occurred in 4 stages: (1) county policies (n = 15) were evaluated for PA promoting strategies; (2) PA resource assessments (PARAs) were conducted via Google Maps (n = 171); (3) surveys (n = 244) included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and interpersonal and intrapersonal factors related to PA; and (4) focus groups (n = 5) were conducted with residents (n = 30), discussing barriers and facilitators to being active. Logistic regression determined significant associations between SEM factors and meeting PA recommendations. Policy scans and PARAs identified strengths and areas of improvement (eg, equitable project selection and disparities in resource quality). Residents reporting fewer barriers (OR = 0.89, P =.01), more perceived behavioral control (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38, P = .01), more social co-participation in PA (OR = 1.20, P = .03), and living in zip codes with higher mean PARA score (OR = 1.22, P = .04) were significantly more likely to meet PA recommendations (Nagelkerke R² = 0.32). Focus groups also discussed safety and disparities in access and quality. This study suggests the utility of the SEM when evaluating and promoting community PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]