Exercise Interventions Among Individuals With Co-occurring HIV And Unhealthy Substance Use

Background: Individuals living with HIV who also engage in unhealthy substance use face compounded physical, psychological, and social health challenges. Co-occurring HIV and substance use are associated with reduced physical fitness, impaired immune function, poor treatment adherence, and decreased quality of life. Exercise interventions have emerged as a promising non pharmacological strategy to improve physical and mental health outcomes in people living with HIV. However, the specific role of structured exercise programs in individuals with co-occurring HIV and unhealthy substance use requires further clarification to inform integrated rehabilitation approaches. Methods: This study was conducted as an integrative review of experimental and clinical studies examining the effects of exercise interventions among individuals with co-occurring HIV and unhealthy substance use. Relevant literature published between ۲۰۰۵ and ۲۰۲۵ was identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Eligible studies included adults diagnosed with HIV who reported problematic alcohol or drug use and participated in structured exercise programs such as aerobic training, resistance training, or combined exercise interventions. Primary outcomes included changes in physical fitness, immune markers (e.g., CD۴ count), and substance use behaviors. Secondary outcomes included mental health status, treatment adherence, and quality of life. Results: The reviewed evidence suggests that structured exercise interventions can lead to improvements in aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and overall physical functioning in individuals with HIV and unhealthy substance use. Several studies reported beneficial effects on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and perceived quality of life. Exercise participation was also associated with improved adherence to antiretroviral therapy and reductions in substance use frequency in some cohorts. However, variability in intervention duration, intensity, and adherence rates contributed to heterogeneous findings across studies. Conclusion: Exercise interventions appear to be a feasible and beneficial complementary strategy for individuals with co-occurring HIV and unhealthy substance use. Structured and supervised exercise programs may support physical health, mental well-being, and treatment engagement in this vulnerable population. Future research should focus on optimizing intervention protocols and evaluating long-term outcomes within integrated care models.

کلیدواژه ها:

HIV ، Substance Use ، Exercise Intervention ، Physical Fitness ، Mental Health ، Rehabilitation