Last Updated:

January 30th, 2026

Physical health therapy

Physical health therapy in addiction recovery works on fixing the damage drugs and alcohol cause to your body. Years of substance use can cause huge harm to your physical health, but physical health therapy can help strengthen your body, improve your sleep, fix nutrition problems, and get you moving comfortably again. The goal is repairing the damage of addiction and getting your body working properly again, which can have huge benefits for recovery.

home workout physical health

What is physical health therapy for addiction?

Physical health therapy addresses the physical damage substance use causes. A therapist or exercise specialist assesses the damage and creates a personal plan to fix it. Most rehab programmes include some physical health components. There are various possible approaches, but most will focus on sleep, nutrition, and movement.

How does addiction damage physical health?

Substance addiction can affect your immune system, muscles, bones, and sexual function. Some of the biggest harms are caused by:

Stimulant addiction

Cocaine and methamphetamine strain your cardiovascular system and can make your blood pressure shoot up dangerously. Stimulants also suppress appetite, cause severe weight loss and muscle wasting, and can damage your heart and cause heart attacks.

Alcohol addiction

Alcohol seriously harms your liver, stomach, and nervous system, and long-term drinking can even cause malnutrition as alcohol stops vitamins from being absorbed.

Opioid addiction

Opioids can slow your respiratory and digestive functions and affect basic motor systems. People on opioids long-term often have severe constipation, breathing problems, and weakened muscles.

Cannabis addiction

Cannabis massively affects motivation, and while it doesn’t cause the same direct organ damage as other substances, long-term heavy smoking can affect lung function and health.

What do physical health therapy sessions involve?

Every physical health therapy programme will differ a little, but the best approach is part of a complete treatment programme. This may include:

Assessment

Your therapist will first check your current fitness level, any injuries or health conditions, and what damage your substance use has caused. Based on this assessment, your therapist will create a plan that is right for your current fitness. This is important because someone who used stimulants and is severely underweight will need different activities than someone who drank heavily and gained weight.

Your team will also check your heart rate, blood pressure, flexibility, and strength to decide what you can do safely in early sessions. Your plans can adapt as you get fitter, and this is a great way to gauge progress and build confidence.

Exercise

Any kind of movement can help your body heal quicker, but exercise doesn’t mean intense gym sessions. In recovery, just short walks or gentle stretching can have huge benefits. Exercise releases natural brain chemicals that improve mood, releases pent-up energy, and when cravings hit, going for a walk or doing press-ups stops the urge.

Common activities for people in recovery include walking, swimming, yoga, weights, cycling, and team sports. Gentler options like tai chi or stretching can be great if you are starting from a low fitness level, but just the fact that you are exercising regularly is far more important than the activity itself.

Nutrition

What you eat also directly affects how you feel. That is why physical health therapy often includes nutrition education and meal planning, so you can learn which foods can help your recovery.

Sleep

Sleep problems are one of the biggest issues in early recovery. Some people can’t fall asleep, others sleep too much, and almost everyone feels chronically tired. Physical health therapy can help you sleep better by teaching you sleep skills and relaxation methods.

Group and individual sessions

Physical health therapy can take place on a one-on-one basis and as a group. Group exercise classes create a real sense of community while getting you all active, while individual sessions let you work on specific problems or gain confidence before you join a group.

Physical health therapy paired with other therapies

Physical health therapy should always be part of a wider treatment programme, including psychological treatment. Exercise can help your body work through feelings that drug and alcohol rehab bring up, and also gives you a break from the tough talking therapy work.

What are the benefits of physical health therapy?

Physical health therapy can benefit you both during alcohol and drug rehab and in the years after leaving treatment. Regular exercise rebuilds strength, improves heart and lung function, rebuilds muscles, normalises weight, improves sleep, and increases energy. These physical changes make daily life easier and also make you feel more confident. This is important because drug and alcohol addiction can badly affect self-esteem.

Scheduled exercise also gives structure to empty days, as having a fitness class to attend or a workout routine to complete provides purpose. This structure is particularly useful post-treatment when you may have a lot of free time that used to be taken up by drinking or taking drugs.

Who can benefit most from physical health therapy?

Physical health therapy can benefit everyone in recovery, but it is especially helpful if you:

Are severely weakened from substance use
Have sleep problems that medication hasn’t fixed
Struggle with depression or anxiety
Need more structure in your days
Find talk therapy on its own is not enough
Have gained or lost significant weight
Want to rebuild confidence in your body

How to maintain physical health after treatment?

The habits you build during your stay in rehab need to continue for sustained recovery. Some of the best ways to keep those habits going include:

Finding activities you enjoy

This is important because you are more likely to keep exercising if you enjoy it. There are so many different sports and activities to try, and as long as you are committed, you are sure to find something that you want to keep doing.

Building a routine

Schedule exercise the same way you would schedule work or therapy appointments. Making it a routine will help it stick and will also fill the time that you used to spend feeding your alcohol and drug addiction.

Joining groups or classes

Exercising with others can help keep you accountable and is also a chance to meet new, healthy, sober friends. You can join a local gym, sports team, or exercise class and see which ones you enjoy.

Begin with realistic goals

Don’t aim for daily two-hour gym sessions if you’ve never exercised regularly. Begin with realistic goals and build from there. Doing a little regularly will always beat the huge plans that you end up dropping.

Tracking progress

Seeing improvements can really motivate you to keep going. Progress will always have its ups and downs, but just tracking your progress will help you see how far you’ve come.

Next steps

If you want treatment that takes physical recovery seriously, look for programmes with thorough physical health therapy. Recovery.org can help you find rehab treatment that makes sustainable recovery easier. Contact us today to talk about your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does physical therapy support mental well-being?

Exercise releases natural brain chemicals like endorphins that reduce depression and anxiety, and helps address emotions that come up in therapy. Getting stronger physically also improves your confidence, and that can really benefit your mental health. Regular movement also improves sleep, which directly affects mood, and many people find exercise helps manage cravings and reduces the restless energy when they first stop drinking or using drugs.

Why is physical health important during recovery?

Your body needs a chance to repair after years of substance use, especially because physical problems like poor sleep, low energy, and constant discomfort make staying substance-free harder. When your body feels bad, cravings increase, but improving your physical health makes them easier to get through. Feeling physically strong and healthy also rebuilds self-esteem that addiction destroyed and supports mental recovery.

In what ways can addiction impact physical health?

Addiction damages nearly every body system. Stimulants strain your heart and can cause dangerous blood pressure problems. Alcohol can harm your liver, stomach, and nervous system, and also stop vital vitamin absorption. Opioids can slow breathing, cause chronic constipation, and weaken muscles. Nearly all substances disrupt sleep patterns, use up nutrients, weaken your immune system, and affect your physical fitness. Physical health therapy can help address all these issues.