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Fitness levels and physical activity among class A drug users entering prison

Fitness levels and physical activity among class A drug users entering prison
Fitness levels and physical activity among class A drug users entering prison

Background: physical activity could benefit drug users' physiological and mental health. Previous research has suggested that physical activity levels change when drug users enter prison.

Methods: twenty-five class A drug users who were new to prison answered physical activity and drug use cross-sectional questionnaires, took a submaximal fitness test and wore a pedometer for 1 week.

Results: participants' mean aerobic capacity was estimated as 49 mls O2/kg/min (±12 SD). Their mean self-reported walking distance outside of prison was 4.67 miles on an average day (±4.14 SD). Pedometer data suggest they walked a mean of 1.8 miles/day in prison.

Conclusion: many class A drug users entering prison had high levels of fitness and physical activity before admission, often gained from walking. Walking activity reduced when they entered prison, posing a challenge to maintaining healthy activity levels.

Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Drug Users/statistics & numerical data, Exercise/physiology, Humans, Male, Physical Fitness/physiology, Prisoners/statistics & numerical data, Prisons/statistics & numerical data, Substance-Related Disorders/physiopathology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Walking/physiology, Young Adult
0306-3674
1142-4
Fischer, Jan
d9c1ee05-d931-4371-a0de-80913cbd58f2
Butt, Christine
d339737f-fc64-4c78-b878-64b458b22382
Dawes, Helen
4323ecf7-fbf7-4c65-95dc-24f906c34f39
Foster, Charlie
b146fe67-aa53-4282-aa98-452933607efa
Neale, Joanne
11aca125-0ef6-460f-838b-13454606886a
Plugge, Emma
b64d2086-6cf2-4fae-98bf-6aafa3115b35
Wheeler, Carly
c2fbe738-4438-45e2-b84b-188a26f3fa9e
Wright, Nat
ae805931-725b-48e6-af55-be6223c0c408
Fischer, Jan
d9c1ee05-d931-4371-a0de-80913cbd58f2
Butt, Christine
d339737f-fc64-4c78-b878-64b458b22382
Dawes, Helen
4323ecf7-fbf7-4c65-95dc-24f906c34f39
Foster, Charlie
b146fe67-aa53-4282-aa98-452933607efa
Neale, Joanne
11aca125-0ef6-460f-838b-13454606886a
Plugge, Emma
b64d2086-6cf2-4fae-98bf-6aafa3115b35
Wheeler, Carly
c2fbe738-4438-45e2-b84b-188a26f3fa9e
Wright, Nat
ae805931-725b-48e6-af55-be6223c0c408

Fischer, Jan, Butt, Christine, Dawes, Helen, Foster, Charlie, Neale, Joanne, Plugge, Emma, Wheeler, Carly and Wright, Nat (2012) Fitness levels and physical activity among class A drug users entering prison. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 46 (16), 1142-4. (doi:10.1136/bjsports-2011-090724).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: physical activity could benefit drug users' physiological and mental health. Previous research has suggested that physical activity levels change when drug users enter prison.

Methods: twenty-five class A drug users who were new to prison answered physical activity and drug use cross-sectional questionnaires, took a submaximal fitness test and wore a pedometer for 1 week.

Results: participants' mean aerobic capacity was estimated as 49 mls O2/kg/min (±12 SD). Their mean self-reported walking distance outside of prison was 4.67 miles on an average day (±4.14 SD). Pedometer data suggest they walked a mean of 1.8 miles/day in prison.

Conclusion: many class A drug users entering prison had high levels of fitness and physical activity before admission, often gained from walking. Walking activity reduced when they entered prison, posing a challenge to maintaining healthy activity levels.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 29 February 2012
e-pub ahead of print date: 20 April 2012
Published date: 23 November 2012
Keywords: Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Drug Users/statistics & numerical data, Exercise/physiology, Humans, Male, Physical Fitness/physiology, Prisoners/statistics & numerical data, Prisons/statistics & numerical data, Substance-Related Disorders/physiopathology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Walking/physiology, Young Adult

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 485282
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/485282
ISSN: 0306-3674
PURE UUID: 13960fe9-82eb-4d0a-979e-0a39b93a9329
ORCID for Emma Plugge: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8359-0071

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Date deposited: 01 Dec 2023 18:06
Last modified: 11 Jul 2024 02:06

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Contributors

Author: Jan Fischer
Author: Christine Butt
Author: Helen Dawes
Author: Charlie Foster
Author: Joanne Neale
Author: Emma Plugge ORCID iD
Author: Carly Wheeler
Author: Nat Wright

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