Functional physical condition in patients with alcohol addiction and its evolution after 4 weeks of rehabilitation
Résumé
Objective. - It has been reported that adapted physical activity for health (APAS) may prevent or repair alcohol-related neurological damage. The present retrospective study aimed to discover the functional physical condition of patients with alcohol addiction and observe the effects of the program on it. Methods. - Two hundred and seventy four alcohol-addicted patients performed 4 weeks of addictology program with APAS. Cardiovascular fitness (6-minute walk test), lower-body strength (30-s chair test), balance (unipodal stance test) and flexibility (Fingertip-to-Floor distance) were evaluated before and after the APAS mediation program. These values were compared to the standard of the general age-matched population. The total hourly volume of APAS was 19 hours of moderate-intensity exercise over 4 weeks. Results. - At the onset of care, the physical fitness level of 92% of alcohol-addicted patients (was below the standard of the general age-matched population and 93% presented one comorbidity at least. Regardless of the severity of their overall health and initial physical condition, physical performance on all tests was significantly improved after the short-term exercise training (19 hours over 4 weeks) whatever the patient's initial fitness level (P < 0.001). The results suggest that the assessment of physical condition has many interests in the therapeutic support of patients with alcohol addiction. The prescription of APAS might be considered as a non pharmaceutical therapy in primary and secondary prevention of autonomy and chronic diseases in patients with addictive disorders. (C) 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.