Can Exercise Help With Addiction Recovery? What a Trainer Sees

Exercise can help as part of recovery, alongside real treatment, never in place of it. A review of 22 studies found exercise raised abstinence rates and eased withdrawal, anxiety and depression in people with substance use disorders. Training gives structure, sleep and a healthier way to handle stress. Treatment and support carry the main load.

If you or someone you love needs help now, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. It is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day (SAMHSA). If you are in crisis, call or text 988.

This article is general education, not medical advice.

Why is a personal trainer writing about addiction?

Because I see it. Some clients train hard while carrying something heavy: drinking, gambling, food, scrolling, shopping. This post started from a Huberman Lab episode with addiction recovery specialist Ryan Soave, and it lined up with what I see at the gym. I am not a therapist. My job is the training side, and knowing when to point someone to a professional.

What did the research find about exercise and recovery?

The review I mentioned pooled 22 studies. Exercise raised the odds of staying abstinent and reduced withdrawal symptoms, anxiety and depression. Moderate and high intensity aerobic work and mind-body training such as yoga both helped (Wang et al., 2014). Exercise also helps depression on its own (Noetel et al., 2024), which often shows up alongside addiction.

Is addiction a lack of willpower?

The point that stuck with me from the episode is that addiction is often a response to pain, not a moral failure. Shame tends to make it worse. I take the same approach in training. When a client slips, I do not lecture. I look at what happened and what to change next week.

How do I fit training into recovery?

• Keep it regular, not extreme. Three or four sessions a week builds a routine without wearing you down.
• Use training as a planned replacement for the old habit at the time of day it used to happen.
• Protect sleep. Poor sleep makes cravings and stress harder to manage.
• Check in with yourself each morning: what might trigger you today, and who can you call?
• Stay connected to your treatment team, group or sponsor. Training supports that work; it does not replace it.

What if the addiction is to exercise or food?

Then more training is not the answer. If you feel you cannot skip a session without guilt, or you train through injury to make up for eating, talk to a doctor or therapist. I would rather slow your program down than feed a harmful pattern.

What should you read next?

Read why your brain loves exercise and how stress affects your body. To work with me, start with the XPL quiz, which is my intake form for every client, then see coaching options and pricing.

Written by Zavier King, personal trainer in Houston and online coach at XPL. ISSA Certified Personal Trainer and NASM Nutrition Coach.