Dose‒response effects of resistance exercise on ameliorating cravings and executive functions in individuals with methamphetamine use disorders

Purpose

Resistance exercise (RE) can acutely benefit symptoms in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD), though the optimal dose has not yet been established. We aimed to determine the dose response relationship between RE intensity and cue-elicited cravings and executive functions in individuals with MUD.

Methods

A total of 128 male participants with MUD (34.73 ± 5.65) were randomly assigned to the low-intensity (30%–35%1-RM) RE group (LREG), moderate-intensity (55%–60%1-RM) RE group (MREG), high-intensity (75%–80%1-RM) RE group (HREG), or control group (CONG). Cravings based on the cue-reactivity paradigm were measured before, immediately after, and 40 min after acute RE, and inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility were measured before and after acute RE.

Results

Immediately after and 40 min after RE, the Δcue-elicited cravings of the MREG from baseline was significantly more negative than that of the LREG and CONG. Trend analyses revealed a U-shaped dose‒response curve for RE intensity and Δcue-elicited cravings, indicating that moderate-intensity RE had the greatest ameliorating effect on cue-elicited cravings. Δinhibitory control and Δworking memory scores increased only in the MREG, and Δcognitive flexibility scores significantly increased in all RE groups. Trend analyses revealed a cubic curvilinear relationship between RE intensity and inhibitory control and a quadratic curvilinear relationship with working memory and cognitive flexibility.

Conclusion

RE proved effective in diminishing cue-elicited cravings and enhancing executive functions. A significant dose‒response relationship existed among RE intensity, cue-elicited cravings and executive function, and moderate-intensity RE had a more pronounced ameliorative effect on individuals with MUD.