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This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility of a trial evaluating the effects of adapted physical activity on sleep and health outcomes in individuals with alcohol use disorder.

June 15, 2026Addiction Science & Clinical Practice0 citationsOpen Access

Physical activity and sleep disturbances in individuals with alcohol use disorder: protocol of the APhysOH pilot study for a randomized controlled trial

LDLilou DuquetInserm ABAnastasia BoitelCentre National de la Recherche Scientifique SGSilvio GalliInserm

Key Points

This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility of a trial evaluating the effects of adapted physical activity on sleep and health outcomes in individuals with alcohol use disorder.
Forty participants will be recruited and randomized into a supervised group (n=30) and an autonomous group (n=10).
The intervention includes a 12-week adapted physical activity program with three one-hour sessions per week.
Both objective and subjective measures will assess sleep, physical and mental health, and alcohol use.
Preliminary results will provide data on feasibility and potential effects of the APA program on sleep disturbances and addiction severity.
Findings will help inform the design of larger trials evaluating APA interventions for individuals with AUD.

Abstract

Abstract Background Physical activity has been shown to improve sleep and may serve as an effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, few studies have examined the impact of Adapted Physical Activity (APA) programs on sleep in individuals with AUD. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT), APhysOH, aims to assess the feasibility of an RCT evaluating the effects of an APA intervention on sleep, alcohol use, and mental and physical health outcomes in individuals with AUD. Methods Forty participants will be recruited and randomized to either an intervention group, referred to as the supervised group ( n = 30), or a control group, referred to as the autonomous group ( n = 10). The intervention consists of a 12-week APA program tailored to the abilities of patients with AUD and designed to improve sleep. It includes aerobic and resistance-based exercises delivered through three one-hour morning sessions per week. The control group will continue usual care and receive educational material on the benefits of physical activity for AUD and sleep. The primary objective of this study is to assess feasibility. Secondary objectives are to evaluate the impact of a supervised APA program on sleep, addiction severity, physical fitness, functional capacity, and mental health in patients with AUD. Both objective and subjective measures will be used, including biomarkers, actigraphy, physical performance tests, validated questionnaires, and diaries recording sleep, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. Discussion Findings from this pilot RCT protocol will inform the design of future large-scale trials by evaluating the feasibility of this type of intervention. The study will also generate preliminary data to estimate the potential effects of APA on sleep, addiction severity, and physical and mental health in individuals with AUD. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06706349. Registered on 2 June 2024; last updated on 26 November 2024. Sponsor: CHU Besançon, France.

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