Effects of Core Stabilization Exercises on Pulmonary Functions, Respiratory Muscle Strength and Functional Capacity in Adolescents With Substance Use Disorder. A Randomized Controlled Study

In recent years adolescent substance abuse is a serious and growing problem. Substance use among adolescents means the use of alcohol, opiates, amphetamines, inhalants, cocaine, marijuana, benzodiazepines, hallucinogens, and anabolic steroids. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that approximately 5% of the world's population used an illicit drug in 2010 and it is estimated that heroin, cocaine and other drugs are responsible for 0.1 to 0.2 million deaths per year. There is a limited number of studies in the literature that investigate the relationship between substance use disorder and respiratory functions. In Taylor et al., study reported that the proportion of cannabis-dependent study members with an FEV1/FVC ratio of, 80% was 36% compared to 20% for non-smokers. Another research of Taylor et al., in longitudinal observations over 8 years in young adults (cannabis smoking on lung function in young adults between the ages of 18 and 26) revealed a dose-dependent relationship between cumulative cannabis consumption and decline in FEV1/VC. In a monograph, stated that follow-up studies of regular cannabis-only smokers also found impaired respiratory function and pathological changes in lung tissue like those preceding the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease . The core anatomically described as a box, with the abdominals at the front, spinal and gluteal muscles at the back, the diaphragm on the top, and the pelvic floor and hip muscles on the bottom. Correct breathing is vital to abdominal training because respiratory muscles are directly involved during common core stability exercises. Moreover, the diaphragm, a component of core stability, plays a role in respiration and trunk stability by controlling intra-abdominal pressure . Oh et al.reported that, 30-min, 3 days a week for 8 weeks lumbar stabilization exercise had a more positive effect on pulmonary function than general physical therapy on stroke patients. Our hypothesis was that core exercises may positive effect on respiratory functions and functional capacity of substance use disorder individuals. The aim of our study is to investigate the effects of core exercises on respiratory functions and functional capacity in adolescents with substance use disorder.