The role of physical exercise in alcoholism treatment and recovery.

A growing body of literature has demonstrated that physical exercise is associated with favorable mental health outcomes. Exercise has the potential to be an accessible and affordable adjunct treatment option for persons with alcohol use disorders (AUD); however, exercise-based interventions have rarely been applied to this population. The authors examine the potential role of physical exercise in the process of recovery from AUD. Possible physiological, psychological, and social mechanisms whereby exercise may exert influence on alcohol use outcomes are outlined. Studies examining the effects of physical exercise on alcohol and other addictive behaviors are reviewed, and the viability of structured, exercisebased adjunct interventions for AUD populations is discussed. Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are among the most common of the psychiatric disorders, affecting as much as 20% of the U.S. population (Kessler, McGonagle, & Shanyang, 1994). A number of psychological treatment approaches for AUD have been shown to be effective, including cognitive– behavioral therapies, 12-step programs, skills training, and psychopharmacological medications (W. R. Miller & Hester, 1995; Read, Kahler, & Stevenson, 2001). However, despite the success of these approaches in facilitating initial treatment gains, relapse remains a major problem, with relapse rates ranging from 60% to 90% (Brownell, Marlatt, Lichtenstein, & Wilson, 1986). In light of this, and consistent with a