Effects of a supervised exercise program on the physical fitness, immunological function and quality of life of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-Infected Patients.
State University of Rio de Janeiro
300 participants
Aug 1, 2008
Interventional
Conditions
Summary
Aim: Exercise effects in subjects with HIV/AIDS are not entirely understood. The study aimed to investigate the effects of a supervised exercise program on the physical fitness and immunological function in HIV-infected subjects. Methods: 27 highly active antiretroviral therapy treated HIV-infected patients (age: 45 +/-2 yrs; CD4-T: 21.3 +/- 2.2%) assigned to a control group (CG, n=8) or experimental group (EG, n=19) group. The EG participated in a 12-week exercise program, consisting of aerobic training, strength, and flexibility exercises [3 times/wk; aerobic-30min: PWC 150; strength-50min: 3 sets of 12 reps in 5 exercises at 60-80% 12 RM; flexibility-10min: 2 sets of 30 s at maximal range of motion of 8 exercises]. Results: Prior to training there was no significant difference in any variable between the EG and the CG. Flexibility (23%, p<.05), 12 repetition maximum in the leg press and seated bilateral row exercises (54% and 65% respectively, p<.05) increased while the heart rate at a given cycle ergometer load declined (19% for slope and 12% for intercept, p<.05) in the EG, but not in the CG. No significant differences were found for the relative and absolute CD4 T-cell counts between groups or due to training, but there was a slight enhancement trend in the EG (16%, p=0.19). Conclusion: Overall training can improve the muscle and aerobic fitness of HIV-infected patients with no negative effect on their immunological function.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria1
- Seropositive patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for at least six months.
Exclusion Criteria1
- Smoking tobacco, changes in antiretroviral medication during the experimental protocol, participation in exercise training in the previous six months and medical contraindication to exercise
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Interventions
Each participant trained three times per week for 12 weeks in 90-min sessions that included aerobic, resistance and flexibility exercises. Aerobic training was performed on a cyclo-ergometer for 30 min at a moderate intensity (workload associated with 150 bpm - Physical Work Capacity 150) to avoid possible exercise-induced immunodepression. Baseline strength was assessed using 12 repetition maximum (12 RM) tests performed twice on nonconsecutive days in order to account for learning effects. The 12 RM test results were used to determine the resistances used in training. In the first week of training 3 sets of 12 repetitions at 60% of 12 RM were performed in all exercises. During the remaining weeks the workload was 80% of 12 RM. The program included the following exercises: leg press, bench press, knee extension, seated bilateral row and abdominal sit-ups, with rest intervals of 2-3 min between sets and exercises. The exercises were supervised by exercise specialists on a one-to-one basis or in small groups (2–3 subjects at a time). At the end of the sessions a 10-min flexibility routine was performed involving all the major joints, using static stretching (2 sets of each exercise, holding the maximal range of motion for 30-s).
Locations(1)
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ACTRN12610000683033