“I just feel better about myself”: feasibility of a fitness-focused & women-centered complement to treatment

Exercise may be a useful complement to treatment programs aimed at reducing the negative neural and functional consequences of alcohol and drug use. While some empirical studies have examined the impact of physical activity (PA) as a complement to treatment, they are limited in sample size or they fail to consider the unique physiological status of women. In preparation for a developmental study, we took steps to examine the feasibility of a fitness-focused intervention with women (n = 25) in treatment. To that end, we conducted a mixed method study with actual physical wellness and perceptions of physical wellness as the target domains. Participation in PA was viewed positively; however, women wished they engaged in exercise more consistently. Ultimately, women viewed exercise as a means to feeling better about themselves emotionally and physically. Recommendations link findings to practice including psycho education, group-based goal setting, and offering a variety of PA modalities.